Heterocyclic aromatic compounds usefuls as growth hormone secretagogues

ABSTRACT

Heterocyclic aromatic compounds are provided which are useful in stimulating endogenous production or release of growth hormone and in treating obesity, osteoporosis (improving bone density) and in improving muscle mass and muscle strength. 
     The heterocyclic aromatic compounds have the structure                    
     including pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof and all stereoisomers thereof, 
     wherein X a  is heteroaryl, preferably,                    
      and R 1 , R 1a , R 6 , Y, X b , A, B, Z, R 3 , R 4 , R 4a , R 5  and R 5a  are as defined herein.

This application claims the benefit of Provisional application Ser. No. 60/124,131, filed Mar. 12, 1999, and Provisional application Ser. No. 60/154,919, filed Sep. 21, 1999.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to novel heterocyclic aromatic compounds which stimulate endogenous production and/or release of growth hormone, and to methods for treating obesity, improving bone density (to treat osteoporosis) and stimulating increase in muscle mass and muscle strength employing such compounds.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The pituitary gland secretes growth hormone which stimulates growth in body tissue capable of growing and affects metabolic processes by increasing rate of protein synthesis and decreasing rate of carbohydrate synthesis in cells. Growth hormone also increases mobilization of free fatty acids and use of free fatty acids for energy.

The prior art is replete with patents/applications which disclose compounds which are useful as growth hormone secretagogues.

The following patents/applications, disclose benzofused lactams which are disclosed as being useful in promoting release of growth hormone:

U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,206,235; 5,283,741; 5,284,841; 5,310,737; 5,317,017; 5,374,721; 5,430,144; 5,434,261; 5,438,136; 5,545,735; 5,583,130; 5,606,054; 5,672,596 and 5,726,307; WO 96-05195 and WO 95-16675.

The following patents/applications, disclose diverse chemotypes as being useful in promoting release of growth hormone:

U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,536,716; 5,578,593; 5,622,973; 5,652,235; 5,663,171; WO 94-19367; WO 96-22997; WO 97-24369 and WO 98-58948.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, novel heterocyclic aromatic compounds are provided which are growth hormone secretagogues and have the structure

including pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, prodrug esters thereof, and all stereoisomers thereof,

wherein R₁ is alkyl, aryl, alkenyl, alkynyl, arylalkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, alkoxyalkyl, arylalkyloxyalkyl, aryloxyalkyl, heteroaryl, cycloalkylalkoxyalkyl, heteroarylalkyl, cycloheteroalkyl or cycloheteroalkylalkyl (where the above groups are defined below) and these groups may be optionally substituted by 1,2 or 3-substituents selected from halogen, —OR₈, —OC(O)R₈, alkyl, phenyl, phenoxy, halophenyl, —CF₃, —OCF₃, —N(R_(8a))C(O)(R₈), or —N(R₈)(R_(8a));

R_(1a) is H, alkyl, or cycloalkyl;

X_(a) is heteroaryl, which preferably include

A is oxygen, sulfur, —NH—, —N—R₅, or —NC(O)—R₂;

B is —CR_(5b) or —N—;

Z is a bond or —S—;

G is oxygen or sulfur;

U is oxygen, sulfur, —NH—, or —NR_(5b);

R₂ is alkyl, aryl, alkenyl, alkynyl, arylalkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, alkoxyalkyl, aryloxyalkyl, heteroaryl, or heteroarylalkyl (where the above groups are defined below) and these groups may optionally be substituted by 1,2 or 3-substituents selected from halogen, —OR_(8b), —OC(O)R_(8b), alkyl, phenyl, phenoxy, halophenyl, —CF₃, —OCF₃, —N(R_(8c))C(O)(R_(8b)), or —N(R_(8c))(R_(8b));

R₃ is H, halogen, alkyl, aryl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkaryl, alkoxy, aryloxy or J1, and where alkyl, aryl, alkenyl, alkynyl, arylalkyl, alkoxy, or aryloxy may be optionally substituted with 1 to 3 J1;

R₄ and R_(4a) are the same or different and are independently H, halogen, —CF₃, alkyl, or aryl;

R₅ is H, alkyl, aryl, alkenyl, arylalkenyl, alkynyl, arylalkyl, arylalkynyl, cycloalkylalkyl, alkoxyalkyl, aryloxyalkyl, arylalkyloxyalkyl, heteroaryl, cycloalkylalkoxyalkyl, —SO₂T₁, —SO₂N(T_(1a))T₁, or heteroarylalkyl, and where alkyl, aryl, alkenyl, arylalkenyl, alkynyl, arylalkyl, arylalkynyl, cycloalkylalkyl, alkoxyalkyl, aryloxyalkyl, arylalkyloxyalkyl, heteroaryl, heteroaryloxyalkyl, cycloalkylalkoxyalkyl, or heteroarylalkyl may be independently optionally substituted with 1 to 3 J1;

R_(5a) and R_(5b) are the same or different and are independently H, alkyl, aryl, alkenyl, arylalkenyl, alkynyl, arylalkyl, arylalkynyl, cycloalkylalkyl, alkoxyalkyl, aryloxyalkyl, arylalkyloxyalkyl, heteroaryl, cycloalkylalkoxyalkyl, heteroarylalkyl, or J1, and where alkyl, aryl, alkenyl, arylalkenyl, alkynyl, arylalkyl, arylalkynyl, cycloalkylalkyl, alkoxyalkyl, aryloxyalkyl, arylalkyloxyalkyl, heteroaryl, heteroaryloxyalkyl, cycloalkylalkoxyalkyl, or heteroarylalkyl may be independently optionally substituted with 1 to 3 J1;

Y is

 where x and y are independently 0 to 3 and z is 1 to 3;

X_(c) is a bond, —N—R_(6a) or —O—;

R₇ and R_(7a) are the same or different and are independently H, alkyl, —CF₃, phenyl, aryl, arylalkyl, and cycloalkyl; or one or both of R₇ and R_(7a) can be independently joined to one or both of R₉ and R₁₀ groups (of X_(b)) to form an alkylene bridge of 1 to 5 carbon atoms; or R₇ and R_(7a) are joined together to form a ring of from 3-7 carbon atoms;

R₆, R_(6a), R_(6b), R_(6c), R₈, R_(8a), R_(8b), R_(8c), R_(8d), R_(8e), R_(8f), R_(8g), R_(8h), R_(8i), R_(8k), R_(8l), and R_(8m) are the same or different and are independently H, alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl or aryl;

R_(8j) is H, alkyl, aryl, hydroxy or —OC(O)R_(8k);

X_(b) is

R₉ and R₁₀ are the same or different and are independently selected from H, alkyl, and substituted alkyl where the substituents may be 1 to 3 hydroxys, 1 to 3 C₁-C₁₀-alkanoyloxy; 1 to 3 C₁₋₆ alkoxy, phenyl, phenoxy, C₁-C₆-alkoxycarbonyl; or R₉ and R₁₀ can together form —(CH₂)_(t)X_(d)(CH₂)_(u)— where X_(d) is C(R_(8h))(R_(8j)), —O— or —N(R_(6b)), t and u are independently 1-3;

R₁₁ is H, C₁-C₆alkyl, —CF₃, arylalkyl, or aryl, and with the alkyl and aryl groups being optionally substituted with 1 to 3 hydroxy, 1 to 3 C₁₋₁₀alkanoyloxy, 1 to 3 C₁₋₆ alkoxy, phenyl, phenoxy or C₁₋₆alkoxycarbonyl;

R₁₂ and R₁₃ are independently H, C₁-C₆alkyl, —CF₃, aryl, or halogen, and with the alkyl and aryl groups being optionally substituted with 1 to 3 hydroxy, 1 to 3 C₁-C₁₀-alkanoyloxy, 1 to 3 C₁₋₆ alkoxy, or C₁-C₆ alkoxycarbonyl;

J1 is nitro, —(CH₂)vN(T_(1a))C(O)T₁, —(CH₂)_(v)CN, —(CH₂)_(v)N(T_(1a))C(O)OT₁, —(CH₂)_(v)N(T_(1a))C(O)N(T_(1b))T₁, —(CH₂)_(v)N(T_(1a))SO₂T₁, —(CH₂)_(v)C(O)N(T_(1a))T₁, —(CH₂)_(v)C(O)OT₁, —(CH₂)_(v)OC(O)OT₁, —(CH₂)_(v)OC(O)T₁, —(CH₂)_(v)OC(O)N(T_(1a))T₁, —(CH₂)_(v)N(T_(1a))SO₂N(T_(1b))T₁, —(CH₂)_(v)OT₁, —(CH₂)_(v)SO₂T₁, —(CH₂)vSO₂N(T_(1a))T₁, —(CH₂)vC(O)T₁, —(CH₂)vCH(OH)T₁, cycloheteroalkyl, or heteroaryl as defined below, with v being 0-5;

T₁, T_(1a) and T_(1b) are the same or different and are independently H, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, lower alkythioalkyl, alkoxyalkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, heteroaryl, heteroarylalkyl, cycloheteroalkyl, or cycloalkyl, each of which may be optionally substituted with 1, 2 or 3 of the following groups, halogen, hydroxyl, —NR_(8f)C(O)NR_(8g)R_(8i), —C(O)NR_(8f)R_(8g), —NR_(8f)C(O)R_(8g), —CN, —N(R_(8f))SO₂R₁₄, —OC(O)R_(8f), —SO₂NR_(8f)R_(8g), —SOR₁₄, —SO₂R₁₄, alkoxy, —COOH, cycloheteroalkyl, or —C(O)OR₁₄; or T₁ and T_(1a) or T₁ and T_(1b) can together form —(CH₂)_(w)X_(e)(CH₂)_(z)— where X_(e) is —C(R_(8m))(R_(8l)), —O—, —S—, —SO—, —SO₂—, —NC(O)OR_(14a), —NC(O)NR_(14a)R_(4b), —NC(O)R_(14a) or —N(R_(6c)) where w and z are each independently 1-3; with the proviso that T₁ can not be hydrogen when it is connected to carbonyl or sulfur, as in —C(O)T₁ or —SO₂T₁;

R₁₄, R_(14a), and R_(14b) are independently C₁-C₆alkyl, heteroaryl, or aryl, each optionally substituted with —(CH₂)_(s)OH, with s being 0-5;

with the proviso that where X_(a) is

(1) where one or both of R₇ and R_(7a), and one or both of R₉ and R₁₀ form an alkylene bridge, then where R₅ is —(CH₂)C(O)N(T_(1a))T₁, then at least one of T_(1a) and T ≠H; or

(2) where R₁ is arylalkyl and R_(1a) is H and R₅ is —(CH₂)C(O)N(T_(1a))T₁, then T_(1a) or T₁ is other than

(3) where R₁ and R₇ are each 2-naphthyl-CH₂—, then R⁵ ≠ phenethyl.

The compounds of the instant invention all have at least one asymmetric center as noted by the asterisk in structural formula I. Additional asymmetric centers may be present on the molecule depending upon the nature of the various substituents on the molecule. Each such asymmetric center will produce two optical isomers and it is intended that all such optical isomers, as separated, pure or partially purified optical isomers or racemic mixtures thereof, be included within the ambit of the instant invention. In the case of the asymmetric center represented by the asterisk in formula I, the more active and thus more preferred configuration is R as determined by the R/S rules when R_(1a) is H. Isomers may be separated by conventional methods, for example, chromatographic or fractional crystallization.

The pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the compounds of formulae I of the invention include alkali metal salts such as lithium, sodium or potassium, alkaline earth metal salts such as calcium or magnesium, as well as zinc or aluminum and other cations such as ammonium, choline, diethanolamine, ethylenediamine, t-butylamine, t-octylamine, dehydroabietylamine, as well as pharmaceutically acceptable anions such as phosphate, mandelate, chloride, bromide, iodide, tartrate, acetate, methanesulfonate, maleate, succinate, glutarate, and salts of naturally occurring amino acids such as arginine, lysine, alanine and the like, and prodrug esters thereof.

In addition, in accordance with the present invention, a method for increasing levels of endogenous growth hormone or increasing the endogenous production or release of growth hormone is provided wherein a compound of formula I as defined hereinbefore is administered in a therapeutically effective amount.

Furthermore, in accordance with the present invention, a method is provided for preventing or treating osteoporosis (improving bone density and/or strength), or treating obesity, or increasing muscle mass and/or muscle strength, or maintenance of muscle strength and function in elderly humans, or reversal or prevention of fraility in elderly humans, wherein a compound of formula I as defined hereinbefore is administered in a therapeutically effective amount.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following definitions apply to the terms as used throughout this specification, unless otherwise limited in specific instances.

Unless otherwise indicated, the term “lower alkyl”, “alkyl” or “alk” as employed herein alone or as part of another group includes both straight and branched chain hydrocarbons, containing 1 to 40 carbons, preferably 1 to 20 carbons, more preferably 1 to 6 carbons, in the normal chain, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, t-butyl, isobutyl, pentyl, hexyl, isohexyl, heptyl, 4,4-dimethylpentyl, octyl, 2,2,4-trimethylpentyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, the various branched chain isomers thereof, and the like as well as such groups including 1 to 3 substituents including alkyl, aryl, alkenyl, alkynyl, hydroxy, arylalkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, alkoxy, arylalkyloxy, alkanoyl, amino, haloaryl, CF₃, OCF₃, aryloxy, heteroaryl, cycloalkylalkoxyalkyl, or cycloheteroalkyl.

Unless otherwise indicated, the term “cycloalkyll” as employed herein alone or as part of another group includes saturated or partially unsaturated (containing 1 or 2 double bonds) cyclic hydrocarbon groups containing 1 to 3 rings, including monocyclicalkyl, bicyclicalkyl and tricyclicalkyl, containing a total of 3 to 20 carbons forming the rings, preferably 4 to 7 carbons, forming the ring and which may be fused to 1 aromatic ring as described for aryl, which include cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl, cyclooctyl, cyclodecyl, cyclododecyl, cyclohexenyl,

any of which groups may be optionally substituted with 1 to 3 substituents as defined above for alkyl.

The term “aryl”, as employed herein alone or as part of another group refers to monocyclic and bicyclic aromatic groups containing 6 to 10 carbons in the ring portion (such as phenyl or naphthyl) and may optionally include one to three additional rings fused to “aryl” (such as aryl, cycloalkyl, heteroaryl or cycloheteroalkyl rings) and may be optionally substituted through available carbon atoms with 1, 2, or 3 groups selected from hydrogen, halo, haloalkyl, alkyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy, haloalkoxy, alkenyl, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy, alkynyl, cycloalkylalkyl, fluorenyl, cycloheteroalkyl, cycloheteroalkylalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, arylalkyl, aryloxy, aryloxyalkyl, arylalkoxy, arylthio, arylazo, heteroarylalkyl, heteroarylalkenyl, heteroarylheteroaryl, heteroaryloxy, hydroxy, nitro, oxo, cyano, amino, substituted amino wherein the amino includes 1 or 2 substituents (which are alkyl, aryl or any of the other aryl compounds mentioned in the definitions), thiol, alkylthio, arylthio, heteroarylthio, arylthioalkyl, alkoxyarylthio, alkylcarbonyl, arylcarbonyl, alkylaminocarbonyl, arylaminocarbonyl, alkoxycarbonyl, aminocarbonyl, alkylcarbonyloxy, arylcarbonyloxy, alkylcarbonylamino, arylcarbonylamino, arylsulfinyl, arylsulfinylalkyl, arylsulfonylamino or arylsulfonaminocarbonyl, or preferably any of the aryl substituents as set out above.

Preferred aryl groups include phenyl, biphenyl or naphthyl.

The term “aralkyl”, “aryl-alkyl”, or “aryllower alkyl” as used herein alone or as part of another group refers to alkyl groups as discussed above having an aryl substituent, such as benzyl or phenethyl, or naphthylpropyl, or an aryl as defined above.

The term “lower alkoxyl”, “alkoxyl”, “aryloxyl” or “aralkoxy” l as employed herein alone or as part of another group includes any of the above alkyl, aralkyl or aryl groups linked to an oxygen atom.

The term “amino” as employed herein alone or as part of another group may optionally be substituted with one or two substituents such as alkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, heteroaryl, heteroarylalkyl, cycloheteroalkyl, cycloheteroalkylalkyl and/or cycloalkyl.

The term “lower alkylthio”, alkylthioll, “arylthio” or “aralkylthio” as employed herein alone or as part of another group includes any of the above alkyl, aralkyl or aryl groups linked to a sulfur atom.

The term “lower alkylamino”, “alkylamino”, “arylamino”, or “arylalkylamino” as employed herein alone or as part of another group includes any of the above alkyl, aryl or arylalkyl groups linked to a nitrogen atom.

The term “acyl” as employed herein by itself or part of another group, as defined herein, refers to an organic radical linked to a carbonyl

group; examples of acyl groups include alkanoyl, alkenoyl, aroyl, aralkanoyl, heteroaroyl, cycloalkanoyl, and the like.

The term “alkanoyl” as used herein alone or as part of another group refers to alkyl linked to a carbonyl group.

Unless otherwise indicated, the term “lower alkenyl” or “alkenyl” as used herein by itself or as part of another group refers to straight or branched chain radicals of 2 to 20 carbons, preferably 3 to 12 carbons, and more preferably 2 to 6 carbons in the normal chain, which include one to six double bonds in the normal chain, such as vinyl, 2-propenyl, 3-butenyl, 2-butenyl, 4-pentenyl, 3-pentenyl, 2-hexenyl, 3-hexenyl, 2-heptenyl, 3-heptenyl, 4-heptenyl, 3-octenyl, 3-nonenyl, 4-decenyl, 3-undecenyl, 4-dodecenyl, 4,8,12-tetradecatrienyl, and the like, and which may be optionally substituted with 1 to 4 substituents, namely, halogen, haloalkyl, alkyl, alkoxy, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, arylalkyl, cycloalkyl, amino, hydroxy, heteroaryl, cycloheteroalkyl, alkanoylamino, alkylamido, arylcarbonylamino, nitro, cyano, thiol, alkylthio or any of the substituents for alkyl as set out herein.

Unless otherwise indicated, the term “lower alkynyl” or “alkynyl” as used herein by itself or as part of another group refers to straight or branched chain radicals of 2 to 20 carbons, preferably 2 to 12 carbons and more preferably 2 to 8 carbons in the normal chain, which include one triple bond in the normal chain, such as 2-propynyl, 3-butynyl, 2-butynyl, 4-pentynyl, 3-pentynyl, 2-hexynyl, 3-hexynyl, 2-heptynyl, 3-heptynyl, 4-heptynyl, 3-octynyl, 3-nonynyl, 4-decynyl,3-undecynyl, 4-dodecynyl and the like, and which may be optionally substituted with 1 to 4 substituents, namely, halogen, haloalkyl, alkyl, alkoxy, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, arylalkyl, cycloalkyl, amino, heteroaryl, cycloheteroalkyl, hydroxy, alkanoylamino, alkylamido, arylcarbonylamino, nitro, cyano, thiol, and/or alkylthio, or any of the substituents for alkyl as set out herein.

The term “alkylene” as employed herein alone or as part of another group refers to alkyl groups as defined above having single bonds for attachment to other groups at two different carbon atoms and may optionally be substituted as defined above for “alkyl”.

The terms “alkenylene” and “alkynylene” as employed herein alone or as part of another group refer to alkenyl groups as defined above and alkynyl groups as defined above, respectively, having single bonds for attachment at two different carbon atoms.

Examples of (CH₂)_(x), (CH₂)_(y), (CH₂)_(w), (CH₂)_(v), (CH₂)_(s), (CH₂)_(t), (CH₂)_(u) or (CH₂)_(z) groups (which may include alkylene, alkenylene or alkynylene groups as defined herein, and may optionally include 1, 2, or 3 substituents which may be any of the alkyl substituents set out herein), are as follows:

The term “halogen” or “halo” as used herein alone or as part of another group refers to chlorine, bromine, fluorine, and iodine as well as CF₃, with chlorine or fluorine being preferred.

The term “metal ion” refers to alkali metal ions such as sodium, potassium or lithium and alkaline earth metal ions such as magnesium and calcium, as well as zinc and aluminum.

The term “heterocyclic”, “heterocycl” or “heterocycle” as employed herein alone or as part of another group refers to “heteroaryl” groups or “cycloheteroalkyl” groups.

The term “cycloheteroalkyl” as used herein alone or as part of another group refers to a 4-, 5-, 6- or 7-membered saturated or partially unsaturated ring which includes 1 to 2 hetero atoms such as nitrogen, oxygen and/or sulfur, linked through a carbon atom or a heteroatom, where possible, optionally via the linker (CH₂)_(p) (which is defined above), such as

and the like. The above groups may include 1 to 4 substituents such as alkyl, halo, oxo and/or any of of the aryl substituents set out herein. In addition, any of the above rings can be fused to a cycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl or cycloheteroalkyl ring.

The term “heteroaryl” or “heterocyclicaryl” as used herein alone or as part of another group refers to a 5- or 6-membered aromatic ring which includes 1, 2, 3 or 4 hetero atoms such as nitrogen, oxygen or sulfur, and such rings fused to an aryl, cycloalkyl, heteroaryl or cycloheteroalkyl ring (e.g. benzothiophenyl, indolyl), and includes possible N-oxides, such as

and the like.

The heteroaryl groups may optionally include 1 to 4 substituents such as any of the aryl substituents set out herein. In addition, any of the above rings can be fused to a cycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl or cycloheteroalkyl ring.

The term “prodrug esters” of the formula I compounds includes esters of hydroxyls and phenols, such as acetate, benzoate, pivolate, stearoylate, isobutyrate, and the like as known in the art.

General Synthetic Schemes

The compounds of the present invention may be prepared according to the following general synthetic schemes, as well as relevant published literature procedures that are used by the one skilled in the art. Exemplary reagents and procedures for these reactions appear hereinafter and in the working Examples. Unless otherwise specified, the various substituents of the compounds are defined in the same manner as the formula I compound of the invention.

In the following reactions, amide bond forming (peptide coupling) reactions are conducted under standard peptide coupling procedures know in the art. Optimally, the reaction is conducted in a solvent such as dimethylformamide (DMF) at 0° C. to room temperature using 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylamino-propyl)carbodiimide (EDAC) or (WSC)), 1-hydroxybenzo-triazole hydrate (HOBt) or 1-hydroxy-7-azabenzotriazole (HOAt) and a base, for example 4-dimethlaminopyridine (DMAP) or Hunig's base.

Unnatural protected amino acids can be purchased or prepared by standard methods known in the art. Chiral preparations include Meyers, A. G. et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 119, 656-673 (1997). O-Alkylated serine derivatives can be formed from serine by known methods, Maligres, P. E. et al., Tetrahedron, 53, 10983-10992 (1997).

The cyclizations to benzimidazoles or benzoxazoles in Schemes 1, 1a, and 1b can be carried out under standard conditions known in the art. Suitable cyclization procedures are described in Nestor, Jr., J. J., J. Med. Chem., 27, 320-5 (1984) and are optimally heating (60-90° C.) in an acidic solvent, such as acetic acid. Benzothiazoles can be prepared as in Spitulnik, M. J., Synthesis, 730 (1976), and by other methods known in the art.

Protection and deprotection in the Schemes below may be carried out by procedures generally known in the art. See, for example, T. W. Greene, Protecting Groups in Organic Synthesis, Second Edition, 1991. PG in the Schemes below denotes a nitrogen protecting group, optimally BOC. The BOC group can be removed under acidic conditions, optimally HCl or trifluoroacetic acid.

Reduction of nitro groups in Schemes 1c and 1d can be carried out by methods know in the art. Optimally the reduction can be carried out with H₂ in the presence of a catalyst (palladium or platinum).

The arylation reaction covered in Scheme 2 can be performed under the known Suzuki coupling conditions in the literature, or other conditions using the metals zinc or tin known in the art. If the Rx is a chloro, the coupling can be performed as disclosed in Indolese, A. F., Tet. Lett., 38, 3513-3516 (1997) or Shen, W. Tet. Lett., 38, 5575-5578 (1997) using a nickel catalyst.

The tetrazole forming reaction found in Scheme 3 can be carried out under standard conditions known in the art. Suitable procedures are described in Duncia et al. J. Org. Chem., 56, 2395 (1991).

The triazole forming reaction found in Scheme 4 can be carried out under standard conditions known in the art. Suitable procedures are described in Sung, K et al. Heterocyc. Chem., 29, 1101 (1992), Shukla, J. S. et al. Indian J Chem,, 30B, 332 (1991), and Wilson, M. W. et al. Molecular Diversity, 3, 95 (1998).

Other heterocycles can be prepared by methods known to those skilled in the art and by methods found in A. Katritzky, Comprehensive Heterocyclic Chemistry, Volume 1 and Volume 2, Elseveir. Oxazoles can be formed following methods found in Hamada, Y. et al. Tet. Lett., 23, 235-6 (1982). Oxazoles can also be prepared as in Zhang, X. et al. J. Heterocyclic Chem., 34, 1061-4 (1997), and references cited therein. Thiazoles can be prepared following the procedures in Bredenkamp, M. W. et al., Synth. Commun., 2235-2249 (1990) or Aguilar, E., Tet. Lett., 2473-2476 (1994). Oxadiazoles can be prepared as in Borg, S. et al. J. Org. Chem., 60, 3112-3120 (1995).

The transformation of alcohols 69 to azido 70 and 75 to 76 (Schemes 5 and 5a) can be performed by methods known in the art. A single pot procedure described in Thompson, A. S. et al. J Org Chem., 58, 886 (1993), is the optimal transformation.

The imidazoles prepared as shown in Scheme 5 and 5a can be carried out following the procedures given in Chadwick, D. J. et al. J. Chem. Soc. Perkin Trans. I, 481 (1984) and Iddon, B., Heterocycles, 23, 117 (1985).

The tetrazole forming reaction shown in Scheme 6 can be carried out on solid phase resin.

The solid balls in the schemes and examples below are used to designate a solid phase resin, for example

The resin may be a Merrifield type resin.

Intermediates 28 and 42 can be further transformed as shown previously in Schemes 3. Alternatively, intermediates 28 and 42 can be treated with an acid linked to a resin, such as Merrifield or Rink, to give resin bound amides, which can be cleaved to give compounds VI and IX. The carbamate resin linker depicted in Scheme 6 is only one possible candidate (Hernandez, A. et al. J. Org. Chem., 62, 3153 (1997)).

Compounds in all Schemes except 1b with a terminal —NH—R₉ moiety can be transformed by methods known in the art, such as reductive amination or alkylation, to compounds of the form

The conditions described here for carrying out each step in the general synthetic schemes are conventional and capable of wide variation. They are presented for illustrative purpose only and are not intended as a restriction on the scope of invention.

Final compounds can be easily purified by recrystallization, silica gel chromatography, or reverse phase prep HPLC. In the cases where reverse phase prep HPLC is used, a mixture of solvent A (10% MeOH/90% H₂O/0.2% TFA) and solvent B (90% MeOH/10% H₂O/0.22% TFA) are used.

Preferred compounds of formula I of the invention include compounds of the structure wherein Xa is as indicated:

Preferred are compounds of the present invention of the structure I wherein R₁ is arylalkyl,arylalkyloxyalkyl, aryloxyalkyl, cycloheteroalkylalkyl, heteroarylalkyl, for example

R_(1a) is H or alkyl;

 and

(1) X_(a) is

 where R₅ is alkyl, alkenyl or heteroaryloxy-alkyl, each substituted with J1, and J1 is —(CH₂)_(v)OC(O)N(T_(1a)) (T₁), —(CH₂)_(v)CN, or heteroaryl; or

(2) X_(a) is

 where A is NH, R₄ and R_(4a) are H and R₃ is J1; or

(3) X_(a) is

 where B is —N—; Z is a bond or —S—; R_(5a) is H, or alkyl or arylalkyl each substituted with 1 to 3 J1; R₅ is alkyl optionally substituted with J1;

R₆ is H;

Y is

 where x and y are 0, X_(c) is a bond, and R₇ and R_(7a) are independently alkyl;

X_(b) is

R_(8j) is hydroxy or —OC(O)R_(8k) where R_(8k) is alkyl or aryl;

R₉ and R₁₀ are independently H and substituted alkyl where the substituents may be 1 or 2 hydroxyls;

J1 is —(CH₂)_(v)CN, —(CH₂)_(v)N(T_(1a))SO₂T₁, —(CH₂)_(v)C(O)N(T_(1a))T₁, —(CH₂)_(v)N(T_(1a))C(O)T₁, —(CH₂)_(v)OC(O)N(T_(1a))T₁, —(CH₂)_(v)N(T_(1a))C(O)N(T_(1b))T₁, or heteroaryl, with v being 0-4;

T₁, T_(1a) and T_(1b) are independently alkyl, lower alkythioalkyl, alkoxyalkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, heteroarylalkyl, cycloheteroalkyl, or cycloalkyl, each of which may be optionally substituted with —OC(O)R_(8f), —C(O)NR₈R_(8a), —(CH₂)_(s)OH, with s being 0-2, —SO₂NR₈R_(8a), SO₂R₁₄, or alkoxy; or T₁ and T_(1a) or T_(1a) and T_(1b) can together form —(CH₂)_(w)X_(e)(CH₂)_(z)— where X_(e) is C(R_(8m)) (R_(8l));

R₁₄ is C₁-C₆alkyl optionally substituted with —(CH₂)_(v)OH, with v being 0-2;

Preferred compounds of the invention include the following:

More preferred compounds of the invention include the following:

The growth hormone releasing compounds of formula I can be administered to animals, including man, to release growth hormone in vivo. For example, the compounds can be administered to commercially important animals such as swine, cattle, sheep and the like to accelerate and increase their rate and extent of growth, and to increase milk production in such animals.

The present invention includes within its scope pharmaceutical compositions comprising, as an active ingredient, at least one of the compounds of formula I in association with a pharmaceutical carrier or diluent. Optionally, the active ingredient of the pharmaceutical compositions can comprise a growth promoting agent in addition to at least one of the compounds of formula I or another composition which exhibits a different activity, e.g., an antibiotic or other pharmaceutically active material.

Growth promoting agents include, but are not limited to, TRH, diethylstilbesterol, theophylline, enkephalins, E series prostaglandins, compounds disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,239,345, e.g., zeranol, and compounds disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,036,979, e.g., sulbenox or peptides disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,411,890.

A still further use of the disclosed compounds of formula I of the invention is in combination with other growth hormone secretagogues such as GHRP-6, GHRP-1 as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,411,890; and. publications WO 89/07110 and WO 89/07111 and B-HT920 or growth hormone releasing factor and its analogs or growth hormone and its analogs or so matomedins including IGF-1 and IGF-2. A still further use of the disclosed compounds of formula I of the invention is in combination with parathyroid. hormone or a bisphosphonate, such as MK-217 (alendronate), in the treatment of osteoporosis.

A still further use of the disclosed compounds of formula I is in combination with estrogen, testosterone, a selective estrogen receptor modulator, such as tamoxifen or raloxifene, or a selective androgen receptor modulator, such as disclosed in Edwards, J. P. et al., Bio. Med. Chem. Let., 9, 1003-1008 (1999) and Hamann, L. G. et al., J. Med. Chem., 42, 210-212 (1999), for the treatment of aspects of Metabolic Syndrome, maintenance of muscle strength and function in elderly humans, reversal or prevention of fraility in elderly humans, stimulation and increase in muscle mass and muscle strength, attenuation of protein catabolic response after a major operation or trauma; reducing cachexia and protein loss due to chronic illness such as cancer or AIDS; improvement in muscle mobility, and maintenance of skin thickness.

As is well known to those skilled in the art, the known and potential uses of growth hormone are varied and multitudinous. Thus, the administration of the compounds of this invention for purposes of stimulating the release of endogenous growth hormone can have the same effects or uses as growth hormone itself. These varied uses of growth hormone may be summarized as follows: stimulating growth hormone release in elderly humans; maintenance of muscle strength and function in elderly humans, reversal or prevention of fraility in elderly humans, prevention of catabolic side effects of glucocorticoids, treatment of osteoporosis, stimulation and increase in muscle mass and muscle strength, stimulation of the immune system, acceleration of wound healing, acceleration of bone fracture repair, treatment of renal failure or insufficiency resulting in growth retardation, treatment goof physiological short stature, including growth hormone deficient children, treatment of short stature associated with chronic illness, treatment of obesity and growth retardation associated with obesity, treating growth retardation associated with Prader-Willis syndrome and Turner's syndrome; accelerating the recovery and reducing hospitalization of burn patients; treatment of intrauterine growth retardation, skeletal dysplasia, hypercortisolism and Cushings syndrome; induction of pulsatile growth hormone release; replacement of growth hormone in stressed patients; treatment of osteochondrodysplasias, Noonans syndrome, schizophrenia, depression, Alzheimer's disease, delayed wound healing, and psychosocial deprivation; treatment of pulmonary dysfunction and ventilator dependency; attenuation of protein catabolic response after a major operation or trauma; reducing cachexia and protein loss due to chronic illness such as cancer or AIDS; treatment of hyperinsulinemia including nesidioblastosis; adjuvant treatment for ovulation induction; to stimulate thymic development and prevent the age-related decline of thymic function; treatment of immunosuppressed patients; improvement in muscle mobility, maintenance of skin thickness, metabolic homeostasis, renal homeostasis in the frail elderly; stimulation of osteoblasts, bone remodeling, and cartilage growth; stimulation of the immune system in companion animals and treatment of disorders of aging in companion animals; growth promotant in livestock; and stimulation of wool growth in sheep.

In addition, the conditions, diseases, and maladies collectively referenced to as “Syndrome X” or Metabolic Syndrome as detailed in Johannsson J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., 82, 727-34 (1997), may be treated employing the compounds of the invention.

The compounds of the present invention are agents that are growth hormone secretagogues and can be administered to various mammalian species, such as monkeys, dogs, cats, rats, humans, etc., in need of treatment. These agents can be administered systemically, such as orally or parenterally.

The compounds of the invention can be incorporated in a conventional systemic dosage form, such as a tablet, capsule, elixir or injectable formulation. The above dosage forms will also include the necessary physiologically acceptable carrier material, excipient, lubricant, buffer, antibacterial, bulking agent (such as mannitol), anti-oxidants (ascorbic acid or sodium bisulfite) or the like. Oral dosage forms are preferred, although parenteral intranasal or aerosol forms are quite satisfactory as well.

The dose administered must be carefully adjusted according to the age, weight, and condition of the patient, as well as the route of administration, dosage form and regimen, and the desired result. In general, the dosage forms described above may be administered in amounts from about 0.0001 to about 100 mg/kg or body weight or in an amount within the range from about 1 to about 1000 mg per day, preferably, from about 5 to about 500 mg per day in single or divided doses of one to four times daily.

The following Examples represent preferred embodiments of the invention. All temperatures are in ° C unless indicated otherwise.

General Experimental

The term HPLCa refers to a Shimadzu high performance liquid chromatograph (HPLC) using a 4 minute gradient of from 0-100% solvent B [MeOH:H₂O:0.2% H₃PO₄] with a 1 min. hold, an ultra violet (UV) detector set at 220 nM, and using a column (4.6×50 mm) packed with YMC C18 5 micron resin. The term HPLCb refers to a Shimadzu HPLC using a 4 minute gradient of from 0-100% solvent B [MeOH:H₂O:0.1% TFA], with a 1 min. hold, an ultra violet (UV) detector set at 220 nM, and using a column (4.6×50 mm) packed with YMC C18 5 micron resin. A mixture of solvent A (10% MeOH/90% H₂O/0.2% TFA) and solvent B (90% MeOH/10% H₂O/0.2% TFA) are used for preparative reverse phase HPLC in an automated Shimadzu system. The preparative columns are packed with YMC ODS C18 5 micron resin.

To a 0° C. solution of the carboxylic acid

(5.0 g, 16.9 mmol, Sigma), dianiline

(2.3 g, 15 mmol, Aldrich), and 1-hydroxy-zazabenzotriazole (HOAt) (2.5 g, 18 mmol) in DMF (48 ml) under nitrogen was added 1-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-3-ethylcarbodiimide (EDAC or EDCI) (3.25 g, 17 mmol) then diisopropylethyl amine (2.95 ml, 17 mmol). The reaction mixture was allowed to slowly warm to room temperature overnight. After 18 hrs, the reaction was diluted with ethyl acetate. The organic layer was extracted with dilute aqueous sodium bicarbonate, water, brine, dried over sodium sulfate, and concentrated in vacuo to give

as a red colored oil (5.47 g), containing starting dianiline, (referred to here as crude compound). The above crude compound was used in the subsequent reaction without further purification. HPLCb rt=3.19 min.

A portion of the above crude compound (1.25 g, ≦2.9 mmol) was dissolved in acetic acid (45 mL) and heated at 69° C. for 4.5 h. After stirring at room temperature overnight, the volatiles were removed in vacuo to give crude title compound in the form of a red colored oil, which may be used without further purification. Alternatively, the red colored oil was dissolved in ethyl acetate and the organic layers were extracted three times with 1 N aqueous hydrogen chloride, water, brine, dried over sodium sulfate, and concentrated in vacuo to give pure title compound (0.92 g) as a dark colored oily foam. HPLCa rt=3.99 min.

Crude Part A compound (≦450 mg, ≦1.04 mmol)) was treated with a solution of hydrogen chloride in dioxane (6 ml, 4N) and after 45 min. a brown solid had fallen from solution. The volatiles were evaporated in vacuo after 2 h. to give a dark colored solid. The residue was triturated three times with hot ethyl acetate to give impure (crude) compound

as a brown colored solid (338 mg). The crude compound was used without further purification in the next reaction. HPLCa rt=2.93 min.

To a 0° C. solution of Boc-methylalanine carboxylic acid (256 mg, 1.26 mmol, Aldrich), and the above crude compound (338 mg, ≦0.97 mmol), and HOAt (207 mg, 1.52 mmol) in DMF (5 ml) under nitrogen was added EDAC (245 mg, 1.28 mmol) then diisopropylethyl amine (0.39 ml, 2.25 mmol). The reaction mixture was allowed to slowly warm to room temperature overnight. After 18 h., the reaction was diluted with ethyl acetate. The organic layer was extracted with dilute aqueous sodium bicarbonate, 1N hydrogen chloride, water, brine, dried over sodium sulfate, and concentrated in vacuo to give a dark colored oil (564 mg). The crude residue was combined with material from another reaction (0.10 mmol) and was purified by flash chromatography (SiO₂, 40 g), eluting with 3.5% methanol/dichloromethane to give title compound as an orange colored oil (305 mg). HPLCb rt=4.20 min; LC/MS (electrospray, +ions) m/z 498 (M+H).

A solution of Part B compound (100 mg, 0.2 mmol) in methanol (2 ml) containing 10% palladium on carbon (15 mg) was purged with hydrogen and stirred under a hydrogen atmosphere (balloon) for 2 h. The reaction mixture was filtered through a Nylon frit, washing well with methanol, and the solvents evaporated to give amine compound

as an orange colored foam (82 mg, 88% crude recovery), ˜80% pure by HPLCa rt=3.0 min. The amine material was used without further purification in the next reaction. LC/MS (electrospray, +ions) m/z 468 (M+H).

To a solution of crude amine (82 mg, 0.18 mmol) and triethylamine (35 μl, 0.25 mmol) in dichloromethane (1.8 ml) under nitrogen was added methanesulfonyl chloride (18 μl, 0.23 mmol). After 2 h., the reaction was diluted with ethyl acetate and the organic layer was extracted with water, brine, dried over sodium sulfate, and concentrated in vacuo. The crude residue was purified by flash chromatography (SiO₂, 10 g), eluting with 5.25% methanol/dichloromethane to give title compound as an orange colored solid (30.7 mg). HPLCa rt=3.37 min.

To neat Part C compound (31 mg, 56.8 μmol) was added hydrogen chloride (0.8 ml, 4N in dioxane) and the mixture stirred for 2.5 h. The volatiles were removed in vacuo and co-evaporated twice with dichloromethane to give a tan colored solid. The crude residue was combined with material from another reaction (39.8 μmol) and neutralized by dissolving in 9% methanol/dichloromethane containing ammonium hydroxide. The resulting suspension was purified by flash chromatography (SiO₂, 5 g), eluting with 9% methanol/dichloromethane containing 0.9% ammonium hydroxide to give a glassy solid (35 mg). The residue was dissolved in methanol (2.5 ml) and treated with trifluoroacetic acid (4.5 μl). After 15 min, the volatiles were removed in vacuo to give the title compound (43 mg) as a tan colored solid. HPLCb rt=2.43 min. MS (electrospray, +ions) m/z 446 (M+H).

Example 2

N-Methyl morpholine (1.08 mL, 9.83 mmol) and isobutyl chloroformate (1.27 mL, 9.80 mmol) were added to a solution of N-Boc-O-benzyl serine (2.91 g, 9.84 mmol, Sigma) in THF (14.0 mL), cooled at −18° C. After stirring the mixture for 0.5 h. at −18° C., a −14° C. solution of 3-aminopropionitrile (0.73 mL, 9.89 mmol) and N-methyl morpholine (1.08 mL, 9.83 mmol) in THF (6.0 mL) was added and the resulting mixture was allowed to warm up to −6° C. over a period of 5.25 h. The mixture was filtered and the solution was evaporated near to dryness. The residue was taken up in EtOAc (70 mL) and washed with 5% NaHCO₃ (2×60 mL), water (60 mL) and brine (60 mL). The organic solution was dried (Na₂SO₄), evaporated and chromatographed(SiO₂ 230-400 mesh, 1/1 hexanes/EtOAc) to afford title compound (3.33 g, 97yield): LC/MS (electrospray, +ions) m/z 348 (M+H).

Diethylazodicarboxylate (1.51 mL, 9.59 mmol) and azidotrimethylsilane (1.27 mL, 9.57 mmol) were added to a solution of Part A compound (3.33 g, 9.60 mmol), triphenylphosphine (2.52 g, 9.61 mmol) and diisopropylethyl amine (0.42 mL, 2.41 mmol) in THF (30 mL), previously cooled at 0° C. The mixture was stirred at room temperature (rt) overnight and then cooled at 0° C. Another equivalent each of triphenylphosphine (2.52 g), diethylazodicarboxy-late (1.51 mL) and azidotrimethylsilane (1.27 mL) was added and stirring was continued for an additional 28 h at rt. The reaction mixture was cooled at 0° C. and mixed with an aqueous solution of ammonium cerium (IV) nitrate (2.63 g/100 mL). The aqueous mixture was extracted with CH₂Cl₂ (3×150 mL) and the combined organic phase was dried (Na₂SO₄), evaporated and chromatographed (SiO₂ 230-400 mesh, 1/1 hexanes/EtOAc) to give the tetrazole (3.5 g, contaminated with 1,2-dicarbethoxyhydrazine) and Part A compound (1.47 g contaminated with triphenylphosphine oxide). The contaminated tetrazole was dissolved in CHCl₃ and ether was added to precipitate title compound (2.08 g) as a colorless solid: MS (electrospray, +ions) m/z 373 (M+H).

To a solution of Part B compound (354 mg, 0.95 mmol) in CH₂Cl₂ (2.0 mL) was added a 4M HCl/dioxane solution (3.0 mL) and the combined solution was allowed to stand for 1.25 h. The solvents were removed at reduce pressure and the residue was taken up in i-PrOH (1.5 mL). Brine (25.0 mL) was added and the pH of the aqueous solution was adjusted to 10 by addition of 1M K₂CO₃. The aqueous solution was extracted with CH₂Cl₂ (3×40 mL) and the combined organic layer was dried (Na₂SO₄) and evaporated to provide title amine compound (258 mg) as a colorless oil. This material was used without further purification in the subsequent reaction: ¹H NMR δ (CDCl₃,ppm) 7.31 (m, 5H), 4.80 (m, 2H), 4.54 (m, 3H), 3.88 (m, 2H), 2.99 (m, 2H), 1.82 (broad s, 2H).

N-Boc-methyl alanine

(285 Mg, 1.40 mmol, Sigma), EDAC (272 mg, 1.42 mmol), HOAt (190 mg, 1.40 mmol), 1,2-dichloroethane (1,2-DCE) (1.6 mL) and DMF (250 μL) were mixed at 0° C. and stirred for 15 min. The resulting cloudy solution was transferred, via syringe, to a 0° C. solution of the crude Part C amine compound (258 mg, 0.95 mmol) in 1,2-DCE (1.4 mL) and the mixture was stirred for 20 h at rt. The reaction mixture was diluted with EtOAc (75 mL) and washed with saturated NaHCO₃ (2×40 mL), water (40 mL) and brine (40 mL). The organic layer was dried (Na₂SO₄), evaporated and chromatographed (SiO₂ 230-400 mesh, 1/1 hexanes/EtOAc) to provide title compound (338.5 mg) as a colorless oil: ¹H NMR δ (CDCl₃,ppm) 7.36 (m, 6H), 5.55 (m, 1H), 5.13 (broad s, 1H), 4.72 (t, J=6.6 Hz, 2H), 4.51 (2d, J=12 Hz, 2H), 4.02 (dd, J=9.2, 5.8 Hz, 1H), 3.86 (t, J=8.3 Hz, 1H), 2.98 (m, 2H), 1.44 (s, 3H), 1.41 (s, 3H), 1.32 (s, 9H).

Part D compound (181 mg, 0.40 mmol) was treated with 15% TFA (4.0 mL) for 2.2 h and evaporated in vacuo and the residual TFA was coevaporated with CH₂Cl₂ (5×6 mL). The oily crude residue was dissolved in CH₂Cl₂/MeOH (several drops) and ether was added to precipitate the title compound (157 mg) as a white solid: LC/MS (electrospray, +ions) m/z 358 (M+H).

Example 3

Diethylazodicarboxylate (1.51 mL, 9.59 mmol) and azidotrimethylsilane (1.27 mL, 9.57 mmol) were added to a solution of Example 2 Part A compound

(3.33 g, 9.60 mmol), triphenylphosphine (2.52 g, 9.61 mmol) and diisopropylethyl amine (0.42 mL, 2.41 mmol) in THF (30 mL), previously cooled at 0° C. The mixture was stirred at rt. overnight and then cooled at 0° C. Another equivalent each of triphenylphosphine (2.52 g), diethylazodicarboxylate (1.51 mL) and azidotrimethylsilane (1.27 mL) was added and stirring was continued for an additional 28 h at rt. The reaction mixture was cooled at 0° C. and mixed with an aqueous solution of ammonium cerium (IV) nitrate (2.63 g/100 mL). The aqueous mixture was extracted with CH₂Cl₂ (3×150 mL) and the combined organic phase was dried (Na₂SO₄), evaporated and chromatographed (SiO₂ 230-400 mesh, 1/1 Hex/EtOAc) to give crude Example 2 Part B compound (3.5 g). The contaminated residue containing Example 2 Part B compound was dissolved in CHCl₃, Example 2 Part B compound (2.08 g) precipitated by addition of ether, and the filtrate concentrated. The resulting residue containing more Example 2 Part B compound was dissolved in THF (12 mL) and 1M NaOH and additional volumes of THF were added until disappearance of Example 2 Part B compound, monitoring by TLC (1/1 hexanes/EtOAc). The final reaction mixture was diluted. with brine (70 mL), and washed with ether (60 mL) and CHCl₃ (2×50 mL). The aqueous layer pH was adjusted to 3, by addition of 1M H₃PO₄, and the solution was extracted with EtOAc (3×60 mL). The combined organic phase was washed with phosphate buffer (2×40 mL, pH 3) and brine (40 mL), dried (Na₂SO₄) and evaporated to afford the the title compound (571 mg): LC/MS (electrospray, +ions) m/z 320 (M+H).

Benzyl bromide (54 μL, 0.45 mmol) was added to a stirred suspension of the Part A compound (115 mg, 0.36 mmol) and cesium carbonate (258 mg, 0.79 mmol) in CH₃CN (1.0 mL), and the mixture was stirred for 18 h. at rt. The reaction mixture was diluted with CH₂Cl₂ (20 mL) and washed with water (8 mL). The aqueous phase was back extracted with CH₂Cl₂ twice and the combined organic phase was dried (Na₂SO₄), evaporated and chromatographed (SiO₂ 230-400 mesh, 3/1 hexanes/EtOAc) to give the title compound as a mixture of N-1/N-2 tetrazole isomers (122 mg): LC/MS (electrospray, +ions) m/z 410 (M+H).

The isomeric mixture of Part B (122.2 mg, 0.30 mmol) was treated with 15% TFA (3.0 mL) for 2.0 h and evaporated. i-PrOH (2 mL) and brine (15.0 mL) were added to the residue and the pH of the aqueous solution was adjusted to 10 by addition of 1M K₂CO₃. The aqueous solution was extracted with CH₂Cl₂ (3×25 mL) and the combined organic layer was dried (Na₂SO₄) and evaporated to provide title amine (94 mg). This amine material was used in the next reaction without further purification. LC/MS (electrospray, +ions) m/z 310 (M+H).

N-Boc-methyl alanine (79 mg, 0.39 mmol), EDAC (75 mg, 0.39 mmol), HOAT (53 mg, 0.40 mmol), 1,2-DCE (0.7 mL) and DMF (60 μL) were mixed at 0° C. and stirred for 15 min. The resulting cloudy solution was transferred, via syringe, to a 0° C. solution of the crude amine (94 mg, 0.30 mmol) in 1,2-DCE (0.6 mL) and the mixture was stirred for 24 h at rt. The reaction mixture was diluted with EtOAc (30 mL) and washed with saturated NaHCO3 (2×20 mL), water (20 mL) and brine (20 mL). The organic layer was dried (Na₂SO₄), evaporated and chromatographed (SiO₂ 230-400 mesh, 7/3 CHCl_(3/)ether) to provide the title compound (44.6 mg). LC/MS (electrospray, +ions) m/z 495 (M+H).

Part C compound (44.6 mg, 0.09 mmol) was treated with ˜2M HCl/CH₂Cl₂, MeOH, MeOAc (3.0 mL, prepared by addition of AcCl to 8/1 CH₂Cl₂/MeOH) for 2.3 h. and evaporated. The residue was further dried, under high vacuum, to afford the title compound as a colorless solid (41.1 mg): LC/MS (electrospray, +ions) m/z 395 (M+H).

Example 4

Benzyl bromide (54 μL, 0.45 mmol) was added to a stirred suspension of the Example 3 Part A compound,

(115 mg, 0.36 mmol) and cesium carbonate (258 mg, 0.79 mmol) in CH₃CN (1.0 mL), and the mixture was stirred for 18 h at rt. The reaction mixture was diluted with CH₂Cl₂ (20 mL) and washed with water (8 mL). The aqueous phase was back extracted with CH₂Cl₂ twice and the combined organic phase was dried (Na₂SO₄), evaporated and chromatographed (SiO₂ 230-400 mesh, 3/1 hexanes/EtOAc) to give the title compound as a mixture of N-1/N-2 tetrazole isomers (122 mg): LC/MS (electrospray, +ions) m/z 410 (M+H)

The isomeric mixture of Part A (122.2 mg, 0.30 mmol) was treated with 15% TFA (3.0 mL) for 2.0 h and evaporated. i-PrOH (2 mL) and brine (15.0 mL) were added to the residue and the pH of the aqueous solution was adjusted to 10 by addition of 1M K₂CO₃. The aqueous solution was extracted with CH₂Cl₂ (3×25 mL) and the combined organic layer was dried (Na₂SO₄) and evaporated to provide

amine (94 mg). The material was used in the next reaction without further purification. LC/MS (electrospray, +ions) m/z 310 (M+H).

N-Boc-methyl alanine (79 mg, 0.39 mmol), EDAC (75 mg,0.39 mmol), HOAT (53 mg, 0.40 mmol), 1,2-DCE (0.7 mL) and DMF (60 μL) were mixed at 0° C. and stirred for 15 min. The resulting cloudy solution was transferred, via syringe, to a 0° C. solution of the crude amine (94 mg, 0.30 mmol) in 1,2-DCE (0.6 mL) and the mixture was stirred for 24 h at rt. The reaction mixture was diluted with EtOAc (30 mL) and washed with saturated NaHCO3 (2×20 mL), water (20 mL) and brine (20 mL). The organic layer was dried (Na₂SO₄), evaporated and chromatographed (SiO₂ 230-400 mesh, 7/3 CHCl₃/ether) to provide the title compound (81.0 mg) as a white solid. LC/MS (electrospray, +ions) m/z 495 (M+H).

Part B compound (81.0mg, 0.09 mmol) was treated with ˜2M HCl/CH₂Cl₂, MeOH, MeOAc (3.0 mL, prepared by addition of AcCl to 8/1 CH₂Cl_(2/)MeOH) for 2.3 h. and evaporated. The residue was further dried, under high vacuum, to afford the title compound (72.4 mg) as a pale yellow solid: LC/MS (electrospray, +ions) m/z 395 (M+H).

1M NaOH (0.67 mL) and i-PrOH (0.50 mL) were added to a solution of Example 2 Part D compound

(308 mg, 0.67 mmol) in 6/1 THF/Dioxane (3.5 mL), and the mixture was stirred at rt. for 13 h. The reaction mixture was diluted with brine (30 mL) and the pH of the aqueous solution was adjusted to 3 by addition of 1M H₃PO₄. The aqueous solution was extracted with CH₂Cl₂ (3×50 mL) and the combined organic phase was dried (Na₂SO₄) and evaporated to yield the title compound (234 mg): LC/MS (electrospray, +ions) m/z 405 (M+H).

Diisopropylethyl amine (10 μL, 57 μmol) and diethylazodicarboxylate (53 μL, 0.34 mmol) were added to a solution of (+)-methyl-L-mandelate (56 mg, 0.34 mmol, Aldrich), Part A compound (118.5 mg, 0.29 mmol) and triphenylphosphine (87 mg, 0.33 mmol) in CH₂Cl₂ (0.9 mL), previously cooled at 0° C. After stirring the mixture at rt for 34 h, additional amounts of the reagents, triphenylphosphine (99 mg), of (+)-methyl-L-mandelate (56 mg) and diethylazodicarboxylate (53 μL), were added. The mixture was stirred at rt for an additional 24 h and concentrated in vacuo. The resulting residue was chromatographed (SiO₂ 230-400 mesh, 4/1 CH₂Cl₂/Ether) to afford a mixture containing the title compound (57.5 mg) contaminated with 1,2-dicarbethoxyhydrazide. The mixture was purified by chromatography (SiO₂ ₂₃₀₋₄₀₀ mesh, 95/5 CHCl₃/MeOH) to provide the title compound (49.2 mg, 1/1 mixture of diastereomers) as a colorless oil: LC/MS telectrospray, +ions) m/z 553 (M+H).

Part B compound (49.2 mg, 89 μmol) was treated with ˜2M HCl/CH₂Cl₂, MeOH, MeOAc (3.0 mL, prepared by addition of AcCl to 8/1 CH₂Cl₂/MeOH) for 2.3 h and evaporated. The residue was further dried, under high vacuum, to afford the title compound (42.7 mg, 1/1 mixture of diastereomers) as a white solid: LC/MS (electrospray, +ions) m/z 453 (M+H).

Duisopropylethyl amine (10 μL, 57 μmol) and diethylazodicarboxylate (53 μL, 0.34 mmol) were added to a solution of (+)-methyl-L-mandelate (56 mg, 0.34 mmol, Aldrich), compound Example S Part A

(118.5 mg, 0.29 mmol) and triphenylphosphine (87 mg, 0.33 mmol) in CH₂Cl₂ (0.9 mL), previously cooled at 0° C. After stirring the mixture at rt for 34 h, additional amounts of the reagents, triphenylphosphine (99 mg), of (+)-methyl-L-mandelate (56 mg) and diethylazodicarboxylate (53 μL), were added. The mixture was stirred at rt for an additional 24 h and concentrated in vacuo. The resulting residue was chromatographed (SiO₂ 230-400 mesh, 4/1 CH₂Cl₂/Eter) to afford the title compound (70.6 mg, 1/1 mixture of diastereomers) as a colorless oil: LC/MS (electrospray, +ions) m/z 553 (M+H).

Part A compound (70.6 mg, 0.13 mmol) was treated with ˜2M HCl/CH₂Cl₂, MeOH, MeOAc (3.0 mL, prepared by addition of AcCl to 8/1 CH₂Cl₂/MeOH) for 2.5 h and evaporated. The residue was further dried, under high vacuum, to afford the title compound (61.9 mg, 1/1 mixture of diastereomers) as a white solid: LC/MS (electrospray, +ions) m/z 453 (M+H).

Example 7

To a precooled 160 ml of methanol at 0° C. was added acetyl chloride (10 g, 128 mmol) slowly. After stirring at 0° C. for 15 min, O-benzyl-D-serine

(5 g, 25.6 mmol) was added and the solution was heated to eflux for 2 days. The solvent was removed and the residue was dried under high vacuum to give title compound as a white solid (6.29 g, 100%). HPLCa rt=1.90 min.

To a solution of Part A compound (3.65 g, 14.9 mmol) in 100 ml of dry methylene chloride was added di-t-butylcarboxymate (3.89 g, 17.8 mmol) followed by the addition of triethyl amine (2.25 g, 22.3 mmol). The reaction was stirred overnight and quenched with 50 ml of water and extracted with methylene chloride (3×100 ml). The combined organic layers were washed with brine, dried over Na2SO4, and concentrated to give crude title product as an oil (5.01 g). HPLCb rt=3.24 min.; LC/MS (electrospray, +ions) m/z 310 (M+H).

To a solution of crude Part B compound (0.98 g, 3.17 mmol) in 10 ml of dry methyl alcohol was added hydrazine (0.447 g, 13.9 mmol). The reaction was stirred at rt for 3 h and heated to reflux for 5 h. The solvent was removed and the residue was dried under high vacuum to give title compound as an oil (0.96 g, 98%). HPLCb rt=3.21 min.; LC/MS (electrospray, +ions) m/z 310 (M+H).

To a solution of crude Part C compound (0.53 g, 1.72 mmol) in 10 ml of dry ethyl alcohol was added benzyl isothiocyanate (307 mg, 2.06 mmol). The reaction was heated to reflux for 4 h. The reaction was allowed to cool to room temperature and the solvent was removed in vacuo. The residue was then treated with 1N NaOH and the resulting mixture was heated to 109° C. for 4 h. After cooling to rt, the resulting white precipitate was isolated by filtration. The solid was rinsed with water and dried under high vacuum to give title compound as a white solid (0.36 g, 62%). HPLCb rt=3.29 min.; LC/MS (electrospray, +ions) m/z 341 (M+H).

To a solution of Part D compound (153 mg, 0.45 mmol) in 4 ml of DMF was added Boc-methylalanine carboxylic acid (96 mg, 0.47 mmol, Sigma), HOAt (64 mg, 0.47 mmol), EDAC (91 mg, 0.47 mmol), and diisopropylethyl amine (61 mg, 0.47 mmol) at rt under nitrogen. The reaction mixture was stirred at rt for 20 h, and quenched with water (10 ml). The mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate (3×20 ml), the organic layer dried over sodium sulfate, and concentrated in vacuo to give a crude yellow oil. The crude residue was purified by flash chromatography, eluting with hexane/ethyl acetate (2:1) to give title compound as an oil (153 mg, 65%). HPLCb rt=4.13 min.; LC/MS (electrospray, +ions) m/z 526 (M+H).

Part E compound (133 mg, 0.25 mmol) was treated with 2 ml of TFA/CH₂Cl₂ (1:3) at room temperature for 1 h, the solvent removed and the residue was purified by preparative HPLC (Shimadzu, 30-100% B, 30 min. gradient, 5 min. hold, 220 nM) to give the title compound (80 mg, 59%). HPLCb rt=3.25 min.; LC/MS (electrospray, +ions) m/z 425 (M+H).

Example 7 Part E, compound (133 mg, 0.25 mmol) was treated with 2 ml of TFA/CH₂Cl₂ (1:3) at room temperature for 1 h, the solvent removed and the residue was purified by preparative HPLC (Shimadzu, 30-100% B, 30 min. gradient, 5 min. hold, 220 nM) to give the title compound (42 mg, 28%). HPLCb rt=3.80 min.; LC/MS (electrospray, +ions) m/z 481 (M+H).

Example 9

A solution of Example 7 Part E, compound (78 mg, 0.15 mmol) in 7.5 ml of THF was added to hydrogen peroxide (0.33 ml, 30% w/w). After stirring at rt for 2 days, the solvent was removed. The residue was then treated with 3 ml of TFA/CH₂Cl₂ (1:3) at room temperature for 1 h, the solvent removed, and the residue was purified by preparative HPLC (Shimadzu, 20-100% B, 30 min. gradient, 5 min. hold, 220 nM) to give the title compound (59 mg, 79%). HPLCb rt=2.99 min.; LC/MS (electrospray, +ions) m/z 394 (M+H).

Example 10

To a suspension of imidazole (19.08 g, 0.28 mol) in 300 ml of dry benzene was added dimethylchlorosulphonamide (26 ml, 0.24 mol) and triethylamine (36 ml, 0.26 mol). The reaction was stirred at rt under nitrogen for 24 h, the mixture filtered, and the filtrate was concentrated. The resulting crude product was distilled under reduced pressure (0.03 mmHg) to yield title compound (36.4 g, 86%). HPLCb rt=0.64 min.; LC/MS (electrospray, +ions) m/z 176 (M+H).

To a suspension of Part A compound (1.88 g, 10.75 mmol) in 100 ml of dry THF at −78° C. was added n-BuLi (4.60 ml, 2.5 M in hexane, 11.51 mmol) dropwise under nitrogen. The reaction was stirred at −78° C. for 1 h and 4-phenyl-butyraldehyde

in 20 ml of dry ether was added in one portion. The mixture was stirred at −78° C. for 5 min. and then allowed to go to rt. After 3 hr at rt, the reaction was quenched with sat. NH4Cl solution. The mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate (3×20 ml), the organic layer dried over sodium sulfate, and concentrated in vacuo to give a crude yellow oil. The crude residue was purified by flash chromatography, eluting with hexane/ethyl acetate (1:3) to give title compound as an oil (3.24 g, 93%). HPLCb rt=3.44 min.; LC/MS (electrospray, +ions) m/z 324 (M+H).

To a mixture of Part B compound (3.2 g, 9.91 mmol) and diphenyl phosphorazide (3.27 g, 11.89 mmol) in 17 ml of dry toluene at 0° C. under nitrogen was added 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) (1.81 g, 11.89 mmol). The reaction was stirred for 2 h at 0° C. and then 20 h at room temperature. The resulting two phase mixture was quenched with water and extracted with ethyl acetate (3×20 ml). The organic layer was washed with brine, dried over sodium sulfate, concentrated in vacuo and purified by flash chromatography using 3:1 hexane/ethyl acetate to afford title compound as an oil (1.64 g, 48%). HPLCb rt=4.15 min.; LC/MS (electrospray, +ions) m/z 349 (M+H).

A mixture of Part C compound (232 mg, 0.67 mmol) and 5% Pd/C (50 mg) in 3 ml of EtOH was hydrogenated under 1 atmosphere of hydrogen. After 9 h, the solid was then filtered off and the filtrate was concentrated in vacuo to afford Part D compound as an oil (200 mg, 93%). HPLCb rt=3.10 min.: LC/MS (electrospray, +ions) m/z 323 (M+H).

To a solution of Part D compound (172 mg, 0.53 mmol) and Boc-methylalanine carboxylic acid (114 mg, 0.56 mmol,Sigma) in 3 ml of acetonitrile was added benzotriazol-1-yloxy-bris(dimethylamine)phoshonium hexafluorophosphate (BOP) (248 mg, 0.56 mmol). After stirring for 20 min at rt, triethylamine (56.6 mg, 0.56 mmol) was added and the reaction was stirred for 5 h at room temperature. The solvent was removed via evaporation and the residue was purified by flash chromatography, eluting with hexane/ethyl acetate (1:1) to give Part E compound as an oil (238 mg, 88%). HPLCb rt=4.13 min.; LC/MS (electrospray, +ions) m/z 508 (M+H).

Part E compound (167 mg, 0.33 mmol) was treated with 2 ml of TFA/CH₂Cl₂ (1:3) at room temperature for 1 h, the solvent was removed and the residue was purified by preparative HPLC (Shimadzu, 30-100% B, 30 min. gradient, 5 min. hold, 220 nM) to give the title compound (137 mg). HPLCb rt=3.33 min.; LC/MS (electrospray, +ions) m/z 408 (M+H).

The following compounds were prepared employing the procedures described above and the working Examples.

Examples 11 to 45 Example M + H No. Structure positive ions 11

387 12

319 13

421 14

421 15

440 16

440 17

488 18

488 19

488 20

488 21

488 22

488 23

526 24

526 27

469 28

423 29

416 30

472 31

463 32

519 33

449 34

505 35

510 36

401 37

514 38

514 39

481 40

478 41

512 42

461 43

537 44

494 45

570

Example 46

N-Methyl morpholine (2.5 mL) and isobutyl chloroformate (2.88 mL, 22.8 mmol) were added to a solution of N-Boc-O-benzyl-D-serine (6.73 g, 22.8 mmol, Sigma) in THF (35 mL), cooled at −18° C. After stirring the mixture for 0.5 h. at −18° C., a THF (15 mL) and DMF (25 mL) solution of methyl 4-aminobutyrate hydrochloride

(3.53 g, 23 mmol) and N-methyl morpholine (5 mL) was added, keeping the reaction mixture below −10° C. The resulting mixture was stirred for 5 h. at between −10° to −15° C. The mixture was filtered, washing with ethyl acetate, and the solution was evaporated under reduced pressure. The residue was taken up in EtOAc (160 mL) and washed with 5% NaHCO₃ (2×40 mL), water (50 mL) and brine (50 mL). The organic solution was dried (MgSO₄), evaporated and chromatographed(SiO₂ 230-400 mesh, 40% methanol/dichloromethane) to afford title compound (8.5 g) as a colorless syrup: LC/MS (electrospray, +ions) m/z 395 (M+H).

Diethylazodicarboxylate (13.4 mL, 21.6 mmol) and azidotrimethylsilane (2.87 mL, 21.6 mmol) were added to a 0° C. solution of Part A compound (8.5 g, 21.6 mmol), triphenylphosphine (5.7 g, 21.6 mmol) and diisopropylethyl amine (1 mL, 5.4 mmol) in THF (70 mL). The mixture was stirred at rt. for 24 h., and then cooled at 0° C. Another equivalent each of triphenylphosphine (5.7 g), diethylazodicarboxylate (13.4 mL) and azidotrimethylsilane (2.87 mL) was added and stirring was continued for an additional 48 h at rt. The reaction mixture was then concentrated in vacuo to one third the original volume, diluted with ethyl acetate (200 mL), then cooled to 0° C. An aqueous solution of ammonium cerium (IV) nitrate (65 g/250 mL) was added and the mixture stirred for 15 min. The organic layer was separated, the aqueous mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate (150 mL), and the combined organic phase was dried (Na₂SO₄). After concentration in vacuo, the residue was chromatographed (SiO₂ 230-400 mesh, 40% ethyl acetate/hexanes) to give solid title compound (5.5 g, contaminated with a less polar impurity) and recovered Part A compound (5.5 g, contaminated with triphenylphosphine oxide). The contaminated title compound could be used as is in the subsequent reaction. Alternatively, a portion of the impure title compound (4.2 g) was chromatographed (SiO₂ 230-400 mesh, 25% ethyl ether/dichloromethane) to give solid title compound (3.5 g) as a colorless solid: LC/MS (electrospray, +ions) m/z 420 (M+H).

To a solution of Part B compound (3.5 g, 8.48 mmol) in dichloromethane (20 mL) was added a 4M HCl/dioxane solution (5 mL). After 3 h., more 4M HCl/dioxane solution (4 mL) was added and after a total of 5 h., the volatiles were removed in vacuo to give a syrup. The residue was dissolved in dichloromethane (200 mL), washed with 1N NaOH (75 mL), brine (2×80 mL), dried (sodium sulfate), and concentrated to give title compound (2.46 g) as a syrup. This material was used without further purification in the subsequent reaction: LC/MS (electrospray, +ions) m/z 320 (M+H).

A DMF (30 mL) solution of N-Boc-methyl alanine

(1.88 g, 9.2 mmol, Sigma), Part C compound (2.46 g, 7.7 mmol), HOAT (1.17 g, 8.5 mmol), and EDAC (1:62 g, 8.5 mmol) was stirred at room temperature for 20 h. The reaction mixture was concentrated in vacuo and the residue dissolved in dichloromethane (200 mL). The organic layer was washed with water (3×100 mL), dried over magnesium sulfate, and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was chromatographed (SiO₂ 230-400 mesh) eluting with 40% ether/dichloromethane to give title compound (3.14 g) as a colorless oil: LC/MS (electrospray, +ions) m/z 505 (M+H).

To a solution of Part D compound (1.4 g, 2.78 mmol) in THF (8 mL) was added an aqueous solution of lithium hydroxide (143 mg, 6 mmol, in 2 mL water) and the mixture was allowed to stir for 20 h. at room temperature. The reaction mixture was brought to pH 1-2 with 1N aq.HCl (5 mL) and the aqueous layer was extracted with ethyl acetate (200 mL). The organics were washed with water (60 mL), brine (100 mL), dried (magnesium sulfate), and concentrated in vacuo to give title compound (1.32 g) as a colorless solid. This material was used without further purification in the subsequent reaction: LC/MS (electrospray, +ions) m/z 491 (M+H).

(24 mg, 0.15 mmol) was added a dichloromethane (1 mL) and DMF (0.5 mL) solution of Part E compound (50 mg, 0.1 mmol), EDAC (28.8 mg, 0.15 mmol), and dimethylamino pyridine (18.3 mg, 0.15 mmol, DMAP). The reaction mixture was shaken for 20 h., then diluted with methanol (5 mL). The resulting solution was passed through a SCX resin column (1 g), eluting with methanol (15 mL), and the eluent was concentrated in vacuo to give the crude intermediate amide:

The resulting residue was dissolved in a dichloromethane/methanol HCl solution (1.5 mL, prepared from dissolving acetyl chloride (10.2.mL) in 3/2 dichloromethane/methanol (40 mL), 3.5 M) and stirred at rt. for 4 h. before removing the volatiles under reduced pressure. The resulting residue was purified by Prep HPLC to give the title compound as a dark colored foam (44 mg): LC/MS (electrospray, +ions) m/z 533 (M+H).

In a manner analogous to that of preparing the Example 46 compound, compounds of Examples 47 to 91 listed in the table below were prepared from Example 46 Part E compound (0.1 mmol) and the respective amine (0.15 to 0.2 mmol). Examples 47 to 50 were treated with trifluoroacetic acid (0.4 mL) and thioanisole (0.05 mL) in dichloromethane (1 mL) instead of HCl to form the final products. All but Example 70 were purified by preparative HPLC, eluting with a gradient system of methanol and water with 0.2% trifluoroacetic acid. All compounds were isolated as trifluoroacetic acid salts.

In the tables of compounds which follow, the X₁ designation refers to the point of attachment of the particular R moiety shown to the rest of the molecule.

Examples 47 to 91

Example M + H No. Structure positive ions 47

508 48

472 49

480 50

494 51

446 52

460 53

504 54

490 55

476 56

462 57

448 58

481 59

495 60

481 61

506 62

466 63

510 64

545 65

558 66

510 67

497 68

486 69

573 70

447 71

462 72

443 73

476 74

434 75

476 76

478 77

494 78

448 79

462 80

490 81

475 82

502 83

515 84

503 85

464 86

478 87

496 88

510 89

526 90

508 91

462

Example 92

Methyl triflate (1.30 mL, 11.5 mmol) was added to a suspension of resin bound (tert-alkoxycarbonyl)imidazole (8.68 g, loading 0.72 mmol/g)

[Note: this procedure was adapted from Hernandez and Hodges. J. Org. Chem. 1997, 62, 3153] in dry 1,2-DCE (60.0 mL), cooled at 5° C. The mixture was stirred for 20 min at this temperature and for 15 min while being warmed to rt. After addition of DMAP (2.96 g, 24.2 mmol), stirring was continued for an additional 10 min.

N,O-Bis(trimethylsilyl)acetamide (4.48 mL, 18.1 mmol) was added to a suspension of O-benzyl-D-serine (3.54 g, 18.1 mmol) in DMF (21 mL) and the mixture was stirred for 30 min at rt. The resulting solution was transferred via syringe to the stirred resin suspension. The mixture was shaken for 8 h at rt and filtered. The resin bound O-benzyl-D-serine was washed with DMF (3 times), 5% AcOH/DMF, MeOH (3 times, 100 mL total), THF (3 times), and CH₂Cl₂ (3 times) and dried: 9.58 g; IR 1717 (broad) cm⁻¹; Anal. Found C, 80.78; H, 8.00; N, 0.91. Loading on N content: 0.65 mmol/g.

A portion of the resin (27 mg) was treated with 10% TFA/CH₂Cl₂ (1.0 mL) for 4.5 h and filtered. The resin was rinsed with CH₂Cl₂ (3 times) and MeOH (2 times) and the filtrates were evaporated and dried (vacuum, overnight) to give back O-benzyl-D-serine, as its TFA salt (4.4 mg): LC-MS 100% Area; LC/MS (electrospray, +ions) m/z 196 (M+H). Loading, on cleaved amount, of the resin bound O-benzyl-D-serine: 0.53 mmol/g.

To the Part A resin bound O-benzyl-D-serine (1.75 g, 1.14 mmol) was added a solution of β-alanine methyl ester hydrochloride (315 mg, 2.27 mmol), diisopropylethylamine (0.39 mL, 2.24 mmol) and HOAT (308 mg, 2.26 mmol) in DMF (3.0 mL) and then, a solution of EDAC (433 mg, 2.26 mmol) in DMF (5.5 mL). The mixture was rocked for 24 h at rt and filtered. The polymer was washed 3 times each with DMF, THF and CH₂Cl₂ to give resin bound O-benzyl-D-serine-2-methoxy-carbonylethyl amide.

To the resin bound amide was added a solution of triphenylphosphine (955 mg, 3.64 mmol) in 1,2-DCE (3.0 mL) and a solution, previously cooled at 0° C., of trimethylslylazide (0.48 mL, 3.62 mmol) and diethyl azodicarboxylate (DEAD) (0.57 mL, 3.62 mmol) in 1,2-DCE (3.0 mL). The mixture was rocked for 24 h at rt and filtered. The resin was washed with DMF (3 times) and CH₂Cl₂ (6 times), and resubmitted to the above Mitsunobu reaction conditions twice. The polymer was finally washed with DMF (3 times), THF (3 times) and CH₂Cl₂ (3 times) to provide the resin bound 1-(2-methoxycarbonylethyl)-tetrazole.

To the Part B resin bound methyl ester resin (307 mg, <0.20 mmol) in n-butyl amine (2.0 mL) was added a solution of tetra-n-butyl ammonium cyanide (40 mg, 0.15 mmol) in MeOH (0.3 mL) and the mixture was heated at 50° C. for 3.6 h. After filtration, the polymer was washed 3 times each with DMF, MeOH, THF and CH₂Cl₂ to give the resin bound amide.

The resin was treated with ˜3M HCl/CH₂Cl₂, MeOH, methyl acetate (4.0 mL, prepared by addition of acetyl chloride (AcCl) to a 3/2 CH₂Cl₂/MeOH solution) for 4.5 h and filtered. The resin was rinsed with CH₂Cl₂ (3 times) and MeOH (twice), and the filtrates were evaporated to afford the amine HCl salt intermediate. This material was taken up in isopropanol (1.5 mL) and saturated NaCl (20 mL). The pH of the aqueous phase was adjusted to 10 by addition of 1M K₂CO₃ and the solution was extracted with CH₂Cl₂ (3×30 mL). The combined organic phase was dried (Na₂SO₄) and concentrated to give the free amine contaminated with triphenylphosphine oxide (30.7 mg).

N-Boc isobutyric acid (36 mg, 0.18 mmol), EDAC (34 mg, 0.18 mmol), HOAT (25 mg, 0.18 mmol), 1,2-DCE (0.3 mL) and DMF (30 uL) were mixed at 0° C. for 15 min. The resulting solution was added to a 0° C. solution of the crude amine (30.7 mg, <0.09 mmol) in 1,2-DCE (0.2 mL). The mixture was stirred for 22 h at rt and diluted with EtOAc (25 mL). The solution was washed with saturated NaHCO₃ (2×20 mL), water (20 mL) and saturated NaCl (20 mL), dried and evaporated to give crude Part C compound (44.4 mg). Preparative HPLC (solvent B: start 30%, final 90%; gradient time: 15 min; flow rate 20 mL/min; wavelenght 220 nm; column YMC S5 ODS 20×100 mm) gave the Part C compound (19.0 mg): LC/MS (electrospray, +ions) m/z 532 (M+H).

The Part C compound (19.0mg, 0.036 mmol) was treated with ˜3M HCl in CH₂Cl₂, MeOH, MeOAc (2.0 mL, prepared by addition of AcCl to a 3/2 CH₂Cl₂/MeOH solution) for 2.2 h and concentrated. The residue was further dried (vacuum; 2 h) to afford the title compound (16.6 mg) as a colorless solid: LC-MS 96t Area; LC/MS (electrospray, +ions) m/z 432 (M+H).

Example 93

Methyl triflate (0.80 mL, 7.11 mmol) was added to a suspension of resin bound (tert-alkoxycarbonyl)imidazole (5.06 g, Loading 0.70 mmol/g)

in dry 1,2-DCE (30 mL), cooled at 10° C. The mixture was stirred for 15 min at this temperature and for 10 min while being warmed to rt. After addition of Et₃N (2.40 mL, 17.2 mmol), stirring was continued for an additional 10 min. A suspension of methyl 2-aminoisobutyrate (1.14 g, 7.42 mmol) and Et₃N (0.98 mL, 7.04 mmol) in DMF (13 mL) was filtered and transferred via syringe to the stirred resin suspension. The mixture was shaken for 5.5 h at rt and filtered. The resin bound Part A compound was washed with THF (3 times), 1/1 THF/MeOH, THF (3 times), and CH₂Cl₂ (3 times) and dried: IR 1728 cm⁻¹; Anal. Found C, 82.02; H, 7.96; N, 0.89. Loading on N content: 0.64 mmol/g.

A 3/2 dioxane/0.25 M KOH solution (40 mL) was added to the Part A compound (2.63 g, Loading 0.64 mmol/g) and the suspension was heated at 75° C. for 4.5 h. After filtration, the polymer was washed with DMF (3 times), 5% AcOH/DMF (3 times, 50 mL total), MeOH (3 times), THF (3 times)and CH₂Cl₂ (3 times) and dried to provide the Part B compound (2.50 g).

A portion of the resin (53 mg) was treated with 10% TFA/CH₂Cl₂ (1.5 mL) for 5 h and filtered. The resin was rinsed with CH₂Cl₂ (3 times) and MeOH (2 times) and the filtrates were evaporated and dried (vacuum, overnight) to give pure 2-aminoisobutyric acid, as its TFA salt (6.3 mg): ¹H NMR δ(CD₃OD, ppm) 1.55 (s, 6H).

Loading, on cleaved amount, of the resin bound 2-aminoisobutyric acid Part B compound: 0.53 mmol/g.

To a suspension of Example 92, Part B compound in phenethylamine (1.4.0 mL) was added a solution of tetra-n-butyl ammonium cyanide (22 mg, 0.08 mmol) in MeOH (0.3 mL) and the mixture was heated at 60-65° C. for 3 h. After filtration, the polymer was washed 3 times each with DMF, 1/1 THF/MeOH, THF and CH₂Cl₂to give the resin bound amide.

The resin was treated with ˜3M HCl in CH₂Cl₂, MeOH, MeOAc (3.0 mL, prepared by addition of AcCl to a 3/2 CH₂Cl₂/MeOH solution) for 5 h and filtered. The resin was rinsed with CH₂Cl₂ (3 times) and MeOH (twice), and the filtrates were evaporated to afford the intermediate

The above intermediate (69.3 mg, 0.18 mmol), Part A compound(400 mg, loading 0.53 mmol/g) and a solution of EDAC(115 mg, 0.60 mmol), HOAT (82 mg, 0.60 mmol) and diisopropylethylamine (0.10 mL, 0.60 mmol) in DMF (3.0 mL) were mixed and the resulting suspension was rocked at rt for 24 h. After filtration, the resin was washed with DMF (3 times) and dioxane (3 times). The resin was swollen with 3/2 dioxane/H₂O, rocked overnight, filtered and washed with THF (3 times) and CH₂Cl₂ (3 times).

The resin was treated with ˜3M HCl in CH₂Cl₂, MeOH, MeOAc (4.0 mL, prepared by addition of AcCl to a 3/2 CH₂Cl₂/MeOH solution) for 6 h and filtered. The resin was rinsed with CH₂Cl₂ (2 times) and MeOH and the filtrates were evaporated to give the crude title compound. This crude mixture was dissolved in acetonitrile/MeOH and passed through an anion exchange cartridge (3.0 g, CHQAX) by eluting wit h acetonitrile (18 mL) to provide the amine (22.2 mg). Further elution with 1/1 acetonitrile/MeOH (20 mL) gave an additional amount of amine (29.8 mg). The combined amine was further purified by preparative HPLC (solvent B: start 30%, final 80%; gradient time: 20 min; flow rate 20 mL/min; wavelenght 220 nm; column YMC S5 ODS 20×100 mm) to afford the tittle compound (20.7 mg): HPLC 100% Area; LC/MS (electrospray, +ions) m/z 480 (M+H).

Examples 94 and 95

Sodium borohydride (110 mg, 2.92 mmol) was added to a solution of cinnamoyl acetonitrile (1.0 g, 5.84 mmol, Maybridge) in 4/1 MeOH/H₂O (30 mL), cooled at 0° C., and the mixture was stirred for 1.5 h. After warming to rt, small portions of sodium borohydride were added at 45 min intervals until reaction completion (additional 90 min). After evaporating in vacuo most of the MeOH, potassium phosphate buffer (pH 3, 45 mL) was added and the mixture was stirred for 15 min. 5% NaHCO₃ (45 mL) was added and the aqueous mixture was extracted with CH₂Cl_(2.) The organic phases were combined, dried (Na₂SO₄) and concentrated. The residue was chromatographed (SiO₂ 230-400 mesh, 1/1 Hex/EtOAC) to give the Part A compound (842.5 mg) as a yellow liquid: LC/MS 98t Area; LC/MS (electrospray, +ions) m/z 156 (M−OH).

Diisopropylethylamine (31 μL, 0.18 mol) and diethylazodicarboxylate (0.18 mL, 1.14 mmol) were added to a solution of the Part A alcohol (198 mg, 1.14 mmol), Example 5 Part A compound

(360 mg, 0.89mmol) and Ph₃P (303 mg, 1.15 mmol) in CH₂Cl₂ (2.6 mL), previously cooled at 0° C. The mixture was stirred at rt for 24 h and evaporated. The residue was chromatographed (SiO₂ 230-400 mesh, 1/1 Hex/EtOAC) to afford the Part B N-1 substituted tetrazoles (98.3 mg, 20% yield, 2 diastereomers): HPLC 98% diastereomer combined Area; LC/MS (electrospray, +ions) m/z 560 (M+H).

A solution of the Part B compound (72 mg, 0.13 mmol, 2 diastereomers) and thioanisole (45 μL, 0.38 mmol) in CH₂Cl₂ (1.5 mL) was treated with 4M HCl/dioxane solution (1.5 mL) for 1.2 h and concentrated. Preparative HPLC (solvent B: start 40%, final 90%; gradient time: 30 min; flow rate 20 mL/min; wavelength 220 nm; column YMC S5 ODS 20×100 mm) afforded Example 94 title compound (23.8 mg, 32% yield, single diastereomer) as a colorless solid: LC/MS 100% Area; LC/MS (electrospray, +ions) m/z 460 (M+H), and Example 95 title compound (26.7 mg, 36% yield, the other diastereomer) as a colorless solid: LC/MS 100% Area; LC/MS (electrospray, +ions) m/z 460 (M+H).

The following compounds were prepared employing procedures as described in Examples 96 to 101.

Example M + H No. Structure positive ions 96

405 97

400 98

405 99

391 100

446 101

466

The following compounds were prepared employing the procedures described in Examples 102 to 117 and general procedures detailed in the working examples.

Example M + H No. Structure positive ions 102

460 103

460 104

448 105

448 106

462 107

462 108

462 109

462 110

512 111

530 112

530 113

416 114

372 115

448 116

448 117

384

Example 118

To a solution of crude

(prepared as described in Example 7 Part C) (7.84 g, 25.37 mmol) in 150 ml of dry ethyl alcohol was added methyl isothiocyanate (2.04 g, 27.91 mmol). The reaction was heated to reflux for 6 h. The reaction was allowed to cool to room temperature and the solvent was removed via the evaporator. The residue was then treated with 1N NaOH (70 ml), the resulting mixture was heated to reflux (113° C. oil bath) for 12 h. The reaction was cooled to room temperature and the solvent was removed via vacuum. The residue was treated with 300 ml of methyl chloride/methanol (100:7.5). The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 1 h and filtered. The filtrate was concentrated and co-evaporated with toluene to give crude title compound (7.54 g). HPLCb retention time (rt)=2.37 min. LC/MS (electrospray, +ions) m/z 265 (M+H).

To a solution of Part A compound (7.54 g, 28.6 mmol) and Boc-methylalanine carboxylic acid (6.96 g, 34.3 mmol, Sigma) in 100 ml of DMF was added HOAt (5.05 g, 37.1 mmol) and EDAC (8.21 g, 42.8 mmol) at room temperature under nitrogen and the reaction mixture was stirred at rt. overnight. The solvent was removed via vacuum and the residue was diluted with water (100 ml). The mixture was extracted with 1/1 ethyl acetate/ether (3×200 ml), the organic layer was dried over magnesium sulfate, and filtered. The filtrate was stored at 0° C. and the resulting solid recovered by filtration to give Part B compound (1.45 g). The resulting filtrate was then concentrated and the residue was purified by flash chromatography, eluting with hexanes/ethyl acetate (2:1) to give further Part B compound as a white solid (6.92 g). HPLCb retention time (rt)=3.19 min. LC/MS (electrospray, +ions) m/z 450 (M+H).

To a solution of Part B compound (67.4 mg, 0.15 mmol) in 1 ml of dry dioxane was added triethyl amine (30.3 mg, 0.3 mmol) and 2-cyanobenzyl bromide (58.8 mg, 0.3 mmol) at rt. The reaction was shaken overnight and the solvent was removed via vacuum to give the intermediate:

The residue was then treated with TFA/dichloromethane (1 ml, 1:3) at rt for 2h. The solvent was evaporated and the reaction mixture was purified by a SCX column (2 g) as follows: The column was conditioned by rinsing with methanol (10 mL). The reaction mixture in 1 mL of methanol was loaded onto the column followed by methanol (30 mL). The product was then eluted with 2 N ammonia in methanol (7 mL). The solvent was removed from the sample by the use of a speed vacuum to give the title compound (53 mg, 768) as an oil: HPLCb rt=3.15 min, LC/MS (electrospray, +ions) m/z 465(M+H).

Example 119

To a solution of Example 118 Part B compound (67.4 mg, 0.15 mmol) in 1 mL of dry dioxane was added triethyl amine (30.3 mg, 0.3 mmol) and 4-(2-bromoisovaleryl)-morpholine (75 mg, 0.3 mmol) at rt. The reaction was shaken overnight, then potassium carbonate (103 mg, 0.75 mmol) was added and the reaction was continually shaken for another 24 h. The solid was filtered off, the filtrate was collected, and the solvent was removed via vacuum. The residue was then treated with TFA/methylene chloride (1 ml, 1:3) at rt for 2 h. The solvent was evaporated and the reaction mixture was purified by a SCX column (2 g) as follows: The column was conditioned by rinsing with methanol (10 mL). The reaction mixture in 1 ml of methanol was loaded onto the column followed by methanol (30 mL). The product was then eluted with 2 N ammonia in methanol (7 mL). The solvent was removed from the sample by the use of a speed vacuum to give the title compound (41 mg, 53%) as an oil: HPLCb rt=3.06 min, LC/MS (electrospray, +ions) m/z 519(M+H).

Example 120

To a solution of Example 118 Part B compound (67.4 mg, 0.15 mmol) in 1 ml of dry dioxane was added triethyl amine (30.3 mg, 0.3 mmol) and 2-bromobutyrolactone (49.5 mg, 0.3 mmol) at rt. The reaction was shaken overnight, then potassium carbonate (103 mg, 0.75 mmol) was added and the reaction was continually shaken for another 24 h. The solid was filtered off, the filtrate was collected, and the solvent was removed via vacuum. The reaction mixture was purified by a short silica gel cartridge column (2 g) as follows: The column was conditioned by rinsing with ethyl acetate (10 ml). The reaction mixture in 1 ml of ethyl acetate was loaded onto the column followed by ethyl acetate (7 ml). The solution was collected and the solvent was removed from the sample by the use of a speed vacuum. The residue was then treated with TFA/methyl chloride (1 ml, 1:3) at rt for 2 h. The solvent was removed via vacuum to give the title compound as TFA salt (47.1 mg, 57%) : HPLC rt=2.56 min, LC/MS (electrospray, +ions) m/z 434 (M+H).

In a manner analogous to that of compounds of Example 118 to 120, compounds of Examples 121 to 172 listed in the table below were prepared from Example 118 Part B compound (0.15 mmol) and the respective bromide (0.3 mmol). Examples 159-172 required further elaboration before deprotection with TFA. A few examples were purified by preparative HPLC, eluting with a gradient system of methanol and water with 0.20% trifluoroacetic acid. Examples 121 to 172 were isolated as trifluoroacetic acid salts or as a free base.

Examples 121 to 172

Example No. X₁—R M + H positive ions 121

498 122

508 123

545 124

450 125

408 126

422 127

498 128

436 129

448 130

480 131

450 132

454 133

554 134

461 135

484 136

544 137

497 138

462 139

675 140

460 141

478 142

492 143

508 144

475 145

490 146

501 147

594 148

571 149

498 150

516 151

465 152

465 153

485 154

470 155

389 156

406 157

463 158

440 159

497 160

539 161

555 162

565 163

536 164

576 165

519 166

535 167

557 168

571 169

606 170

606 171

526 172

547

Compounds of Examples 173 to 216 listed in the table below were prepared in a manner analogous to that of compounds of Example 118 to 172.

Examples 173 to 216

Example M + H No. X₁—R positive ions 173

472 174

531 175

562 176

574 177

585 178

556 179

567 180

660 181

651 182

564 183

636 184

582 185

531 186

551 187

551 188

564 189

529 190

536 191

531 192

558 193

531 194

517 195

474 196

560 197

491 198

564 199

473 200

574 201

611 202

516 203

488 204

574 205

620 206

546 207

610 208

563 209

528 210

585 211

741 212

624 213

628 214

526 215

544 216

564

Example 217

N-Methyl morpholine (1.86 mL, 16.9 mmol) and isobutyl chloroformate (2.19 mL, 16.9 mmol) were added to a solution of N-Boc-O-benzyl-D-serine (5 g, 16.9 mmol, ChemImpex) in THF (35 mL), cooled at −18° C. under nitrogen. After stirring the mixture for 0.5 h. at −18° C., a solution of N-Cbz-1-3-diaminobutane hydrochloride

(4.14 g, 16.9 mmol) and N-methyl morpholine (1.86 mL, 16.9 mmol) in DMF (10 mL) was added and the resulting mixture was allowed to warm up to −5° C. over a period of 4 h. The mixture was filtered and the solution was evaporated near to dryness. The residue was taken up in EtOAc and washed with 5% NaHCO₃ (3×50 mL), water and brine. The organic solution was dried (Na₂SO₄), and evaporated to afford Part A compound (7.84 g, 97% yield): LC/MS (electrospray, +ions) m/z 486 (M+H).

Diethylazodicarboxylate (2.57 mL, 16.3 mmol) and azidotrimethylsilane (2.16 mL, 16.3 mmol) were added to a solution of Part A compound (7.92 g, 16.3 mmol) and triphenylphosphine (4.28 g, 16.3 mmol) in THF (60 mL), previously cooled at 0° C. under nitrogen. The mixture was stirred at rt overnight and then cooled at 0° C. Another equivalent each of triphenylphosphine (4.28 g), diethylazodicarboxylate (2.57 mL) and azidotrimethylsilane (2.16 mL) was added and stirring was continued for an additional 24 h at rt. The reaction mixture was cooled at 0° C. and an aqueous solution (75 ml) of ammonium cerium (IV) nitrate (2.63 g/100 mL) was added and stirred for 1 h. The aqueous mixture was extracted with CH₂Cl₂ and the organic phase was dried (Na₂SO₄), evaporated and chromatographed (SiO₂ 230-400 mesh, 1/1 hexanes/EtOAc) to give the impure Part B compound. The contaminated tetrazole was dissolved in CHCl₃ and ether was added to precipitate Part B compound (2.6 g) as a colorless solid: MS (electrospray, +ions) m/z 511 (M+H).

To a solution of Part B compound (2.5 g, 4.80 mmol) in CH₂Cl₂ was added a 4M HCl/dioxane solution (14.7 mL) and stirred for 3 h. The solvents were removed at reduce pressure, the residue concentrated from CH₂Cl₂ and the residue was taken up in minimal i-PrOH. Brine (150 mL) was added and the pH of the aqueous solution was adjusted to 10 by addition of 1M K₂CO₃. The aqueous solution was extracted with CH₂Cl₂, dried (Na₂SO₄), and evaporated to provide the amine intermediate,

used without further purification in the subsequent reaction.

N-Boc-methyl alanine (1.49 g, 7.35 mmol, Sigma), EDAC (1.14 g, 7.35 mmol), HOAt (1 g, 7.35 mmol), 1,2-DCE and DMF (1.29 mL) were mixed at 0° C. and stirred for 15 min. The resulting solution was transferred to a 0° C. solution of the crude amine intermediate (prepared above) in 1,2-DCE and the mixture was stirred overnight at rt. The reaction mixture was diluted with EtOAc and washed with saturated NaHCO₃, water and brine. The organic layer was dried (Na₂SO₄), evaporated and chromatographed (SiO₂ 230-400 mesh, 1/1 hexanes/EtOAc) to provide Part C compound (1.58 g) as a colorless oil: MS (electrospray, +ions) m/z 596 (M+H).

A methanol (3 mL) solution of Part C compound (100 mg, 0.17 mmol) and 5% palladium on carbon (50 mg) was hydrogenated for 1 h at 45 psi hydrogen. The reaction mixture was filtered through Celite and concentrated affording intermediate compound

(68.1 mg). The resulting residue could be purifired by auto Prep HPLC to give pure intermediate compound (47.6 mg): MS (electrospray, +ions) m/z 462 (M+H).

A CH₂Cl₂ (1 mL) and DMF (0.5 mL) solution of hydantoin

(25.3 mg, 0.16 mmol), EDAC (31.3 mg, 0.16 mmol), and dimethylamino pyridine (DMAP) (20.4 mg, 0.16 mmol) was added to a CH₂Cl₂ (1 mL) solution of the intermediate compound (75 mg, 0.16 mmol) at rt under nitrogen. The reaction mixture was allowed to stir at rt overnight and the volatiles were removed under vacuum. The resulting residue was dissolved in methanol and passed through a SCX resin column to give Part D compound (72 mg): MS (electrospray, +ions) m/z 602 (M+H).

A CH₂Cl₂ solution of Part D compound (64.3 mg, 0.107 mmol) was treated with an HCl solution (3.0 mL; 10.2 ml of AcCl in 40 ml of 3/2 CH₂Cl₂/MeOH) for 3 h and evaporated in vacuo. The residue was coevaporated four times with CH₂Cl₂ to give the title compound (51.4 mg) as a white solid: LC/MS (electrospray, +ions) m/z 502 (M+H).

Example 218

N-Methyl morpholine (2.23 mL, 20.3 mmol) and isobutyl chloroformate (2.64 mL, 20.3 mmol) were added to a solution of N-Boc-O-benzyl-D-serine (6 g, 20.3 mmol, ChemImpex) in THF (30 mL), cooled at −20° C. under nitrogen. After stirring the mixture for 45 min. at −20° C., a solution of ethanolamine (1.3 g, 21.4 mmol) in THF (20 mL) was added and the resulting mixture was allowed to warm up to rt over a period of 4 h. After stirring overnight, the mixture was filtered and the solution was evaporated near to dryness. The residue was purified by flash column chromatography (silica gel), eluting with hexanes:ethyl acetate (1:4) to afford the Part A compound (7.3 g): LC/MS (electrospray, +ions) m/z 339 (M+H).

To a CH₂Cl₂ (20 mL) solution of Part A compound (3.60 g, 10.7 mmol) at rt under nitrogen was added pyridine (3.44 mL, 42.6 mmol) and acetic anhydride (1.1 mL, 11.7 mmol). After 14 h, the volatiles were removed under vacuum. The resulting residue was purified by flash column chromatography (silica gel), eluting with hexanes:ethyl acetate (2:1) to afford the Part B compound (3.85 g): LC/MS (electrospray, +ions) m/z 381 (M+H).

To a THF (30 mL) solution of Part B compound (3.83 g, 10.1 mmol) was added triphenylphosphine (2.64 g, 10.1 mmol), diethylazodicarboxylate (1.24 mL, 10.1 mmol) and azidotrimethylsilane (1.34 mL, 10.1 mmol). The mixture was stirred at room temperature (rt) for 24 h and then another equivalent each of triphenylphosphine (2.64 g), diethylazodicarboxylate (1.24 mL) and azidotrimethylsilane (1.34 mL) was added and stirring was continued for an additional 24 h at rt. The volatiles were removed under vacuum and the residue was purified by flash chromatography (SiO₂ 230-400 mesh, 8/1 hexanes/EtOAc) to give somewhat impure intermediate compound

(2.71 g). The contaminated tetrazole was sufficiently pure for the subsequent reaction.

A 4M HCl/dioxane solution (10 mL) was added to the above intermediate compound (2.71 g, ≦6.69 mmol) and stirred for 1.5 h. The solvents were removed at reduce pressure and the residue co-evaporated twice with a mixture of toluene and methanol to provide Part C compound (2.28 g) as a colorless solid: LC/MS (electrospray, +ions) m/z 381 (M+H).

To a CH₂Cl₂ (25 mL) solution of Part C compound (2.2.8 g, 6.7 mmol) was added diisopropylethylamine (2.33 mL, 13.4 mmol), N-Boc-methyl alanine (2.04 g, 10 mmol, ChemImpex), HOAt (1.36 g, 10 mmol), and EDAC (1.92 g, 10 mmol) and the mixture was stirred overnight at rt. The reaction mixture was quenched with saturated ammonium chloride, and the aqueous layer was washed three times with CH₂Cl₂. The combined organic layers were washed with brine, dried (Na₂SO₄), and evaporated to provide intermediate compound

sufficiently pure for the subsequent reaction.

The above intermediate compound in a solution of THF/MeOH (20 mL, 20/1) was treated with 2N lithium hydroxide (10 mL) for 1 h. After cooling to 0° C., the reaction mixture was neutralized to pH 7 and the aqueous layer extracted with CH₂Cl₂ (3 times 100 mL). The combined organics were dried (MgSO₄), filtered, and concentrated under vacuum. The residue was purified by flash chromatography (SiO₂ 230-400 mesh, 1/1 hexanes/EtOAc) to give Part D compound (1.69 g): MS (electrospray, +ions) m/z 449 (M+H).

To a THF (20 mL) solution at 0° C. of Part D compound (1.34 g, 3.0 mmol) was added pyridine (0.53 mL, 6.6 mmol). After 3 min, a THF (10 mL) solution of para-nitrochloroformate (1.33 g, 6.6 mmol) was added and the mixture was stirred at 0° C. for 1 h and 2 h at rt. The reaction mixture was then filtered and the filtrate concentrated under vacuum. The resulting residue was purified by flash chromatography (SiO₂, 230-400 mesh) eluting with 1/1 hexanes/EtOAc to give Part E compound (1.52 g): LC/MS (electrospray, +ions) m/z 614 (M+H).

To a THF (20 mL) solution of Part E compound (3.4 g, 5.55 mmol) was added

(0.74 g, 8.32 mmol) and after 3 h at RT, the volatiles were removed under vacuum. The resulting residue was purified by flash chromatography (SiO₂ 230-400 mesh) eluting with 1/2 hexanes/EtOAc (4/1 to 1/1) to give pure Part F compound (2.325 g), as well as some less pure material (1.03 g): LC/MS (electrospray, +ions) m/z 564 (M+H).

Part F compound (1.59 g, 2.82 mmol) was treated with a 4N HCl/dioxane solution (15 mL) for 1.5 h. The volatiles were evaporated in vacuo to give the title compound (1.44 g) as a colorless solid: LC/MS (electrospray, +ions) m/z 464 (M+H).

The above intermediate was treated with a 4N HCl/dioxane solution for 3 h and evaporated in vacuo. The residue was purified by preparative HPLC to give the title compound (85 mg) as a white solid: MS (electrospray, +ions) m/z 566 (M+H).

The intermediate Example 218, Part F can be prepared with the modified conditions as described in Example 219.

To a THF (250 mL) solution of Example 218 Part B compound (47.0 g, 120 mmol) cooled to 1° C. was added triphenylphosphine (32.6 g, 123 mmol) and diisopropylethylamine (5.4 mL, 32 mmol). Diethylazodicarboxylate (19.6 mL, 123 mmol, DEAD) was added dropwise over 15 minutes keeping temperature under 5° C. followed by the addition azidotrimethylsilane (16.5 mL, 123 mmol). The mixture was stirred at room temperature (rt) for 24 h and then another equivalent each of triphenylphosphine (32.6 g), DEAD(19.6 mL) and azidotrimethylsilane (16.5 mL) was added as before and stirring was continued for an additional 24 h at rt. Another equivalent each of triphenylphosphine (32.6 g), DEAD (19.6 mL) and azidotrimethylsilane (16.5 mL) was added as before and stirring was continued for an additional 24 h at rt. The reaction was cooled to 1° C. and quenched with a solution of ammonium cerium(IV) nitrate (136 g) in water (500 ml) over 45 minutes. The resulting mixture was filtered through celite and concentrated in vacuo and extracted twice with ethyl acetate (250 mL). The combined organic extracts were washed with brine, dried over magnesium sulfate and concentrated in vacuo to give an orange oil (236 g). This oil was dissolved in methyl t-butyl ether (1 L, MTBE), washed twice with 1N NaOH (500 mL), once with water (500 mL) and once with brine (500 mL), dried over magnesium sulfate and concentrated in vacuo to give a yellow solid (166 g). This solid was purified through a silica gel pad (500 g, 230-400 mesh) eluting with 15-40% ethyl acetate in hexanes to give the acetate intermediate as a yellow oil (20.6 g, 41% yield)

A 4M HCl/dioxane solution (325 mL) was added to a solution of the above intermediate compound (106.6 g, 263 mmol, combined from numerous reactions) in CH₂Cl₂ (600 mL) and stirred overnight. The solvents were removed in vacuo and the residue co-evaporated twice with a mixture of toluene and methanol to provide desired compound (89.3 g, 100% yield)) as a brown foam: LC/MS (electrospray, +ions) m/z 381 (M+H).

To a CH₂Cl₂ (1 L) solution of Part A compound (80.0 g, 262 mmol) was added diisopropylethylamine (120 mL, 262 mmol), N-Boc-methyl alanine (80.0 g, 393 mmol), HOAt (53.5 g, 393 mmol), and EDAC (75.3 g, 393 mmol) and the mixture was stirred 1 hour at rt. The reaction mixture was washed with water (500 mL), 0.5 M HCl (500 mL) and saturated NaHCO₃ (500 mL), dried (MgSO₄), and evaporated to provide intermediate compound as a yellow foam (146.8 g)

sufficiently pure for the subsequent reaction.

The above intermediate compound in a solution of THF/MeOH (1.25 L, 4/1) was placed in a water bath and 2N lithium hydroxide (65 mL) was added over 15 minutes maintaining the internal temperature below 25° C. The reaction stirred at room temperature for 1 h. The reaction mixture was concentrated in vacuo to an oil/solid mixture which was dissolved in water (500 mL) and the pH was adjusted to 5.5 with 1N HCl (40 mL). Dichloromethane was added (500 mL) and the mixture stirred for 30 minutes. The organic layer was separated and the aqueous layer extracted with CH₂Cl₂ (250 mL). The combined organics were washed with water (400 mL) and brine (400 mL), dried (MgSO₄), filtered, and concentrated under vacuum to give Part D compound (123.2 g) as a light yellow foam: MS (electrospray, +ions) m/z 449 (M+H).

To a CH₂Cl₂ (350 mL) solution at 0° C. of Part B compound (123 g, 260 mmol) was added pyridine (32.0 mL, 391 mmol). After 10 min, a CH₂Cl₂ (150 mL) solution of para-nitrochloroformate (63.0 g, 313 mmol) was added over 1 hour, and the mixture was stirred at room temperature for 1 hour. The reaction mixture was washed with water (300 mL), 1N HCl (300 mL), and brine (300 mL), dried (MgSO₄), and concentrated in vacuo to a brown oil (187.3 g). This crude material was purified through a silica gel pad (500 g, 230-400 mesh) eluted with 30-50% ethyl acetate in hexanes to give Part E compound as an off-white foam (130.98 g, 81.9% yield): LC/MS (electrospray, +ions) m/z 614 (M+H).

To a THF (600 mL) solution of Part C compound (117.5 g, 190 mmol) in a water bath was added aminobutanol

(19.4 mL, 210 mmol) dropwise over 30 minutes and after 1 h at RT, an additional aliquot of 4-amino-1-butanol (1.7 mL, 18 mmol) was added. After stirring an additional 30 minutes at rt, the volatiles were removed under vacuum. The resulting residue was dissolved in EtOAc (600 mL) and washed with 1N HCl (200 mL), saturated NaHCO₃ (1×400 mL and 2×200 mL, emulsion), and brine (3×200 mL, slow separation), dried (MgSO₄), and concentrated in vacuo to give an oil. This oil was dissolved in MTBE (600 mL) and washed with saturated NaHCO₃ (1×300 mL), and brine (2×500 mL), dried (Na₂SO₄), and concentrated in vacuo to give a yellow oil (156.52 g). This oil was dissolved in MTBE (1 L) and washed with 1N NaOH (500 mL) and water. The organic layer was washed again with 1N NaOH (500 mL) and the combined NaOH washes were extracted with MTBE (400 mL). The combined MTBE layers were washed with water (500 mL) and brine (500 mL), dried (MgSO₄), and concentrated in vacuo to give pure title Part D compound as a light yellow oil (103.08 g, 95.5% yield): LC/MS (electrospray, +ions) m/z 564 (M+H).

Examples 220-352 were prepared in a manner analogous to that of compounds described previously in the invention and by methods known in the art.

Examples 220 to 352

Example M + H No. X₁—R positive ions 220

466 221

478 222

505 223

505 224

418 225

415 226

434 227

433 228

482 229

476 230

475 231

590 232

474 233

544 234

518 235

462 236

442 237

447 238

434 239

464 240

448 241

502 242

479 243

511 244

574 245

485 246

462 247

463 248

349 249

524 250

496 251

448 252

434 253

462 254

498 255

496 256

466 257

498 258

497 259

542 260

512 261

512 262

511 263

462 264

511 265

547 266

404 267

390 268

418 269

518 270

510 271

496 272

510 273

391 274

524 275

489 276

543 277

492 278

506 279

513 280

527 281

582 282

553 283

520 284

476 285

448 286

462 287

476 288

450 289

464 290

480 291

478 292

432 293

510 294

510 295

524 296

562 297

562 298

630 299

512 300

475 301

524 302

524 303

462 304

524 305

462 306

573 307

552 308

478 309

492 310

506 311

520 312

482 313

524 314

504 315

539 316

553 317

532 318

518 319

518 320

554 321

468 322

553 323

526 324

386 325

372 326

567 327

508 328

478 329

474 330

553 331

440 332

498 333

540 334

537 335

528 336

450 337

462 338

480 339

536 340

540 341

563 342

507 343

556 344

494 345

549 346

542 347

531 348

549 349

377 350

439 351

508 352

477

To a solution of Compound 218 Part F (929mg, 1.65 mmol) in anhydrous CH₂Cl₂ (8 mL) was added pyridine (400 μl, 4.95 mmol) and DMAP (40 mg, 0.33 mmol) followed by the addition of benzoyl chloride (287 μl, 2.48 mmol). After stirring for 5 h at room temperature, the solvent was removed in vacuo, and the residue was purified by flash column chromatography (SiO₂, 20%-50% EtOAc in hexanes) to give the desired product (1.09 g, 99% yield).

To a solution of Part A compound (580 mg) in CH₂Cl₂ (3 ml) was added 4N HCl in dioxane (3 ml). The reaction mixture stirred at room temperature for 1.5 h. The solvent was removed in vacuo to give the desired product. (469 mg, 89% yield). LC/MS (electrospray, +ions) m/z 567 (M+H).

To a solution of Example 219 compound (102.66 g, 182 mmol) in anhydrous CH₂Cl₂ (650 mL) was added pyridine (37.0 mL, 455 mmol) and DMAP (2.23 g, 18.2 mmol). The flask was immersed in a water bath and benzoyl chloride (25 mL, 219 mmol) was added dropwise over 20 minutes. After stirring for 2 h at room temperature, additional benzoyl chloride (6.0 mL, 54 mmol) was added dropwise and the reaction continued to stir at room temperature overnight. The reaction mixture was washed with 1N HCl (300 mL), saturated NaHCO₃ (300 mL), and brine (300 mL), dried (MgSO₄), and concentrated in vacuo, and the residue was purified by silica gel pad filtration (SiO₂, 650 g, 10%-85% EtOAc in hexanes) to give the desired product (116.34 g, 97% yield) as a colorless foam.

To a solution of Part A compound (116.0 g, 174 mmol) in CH₂Cl₂ (700 ml) was added 4N HCl in dioxane (218 ml, 870 mmol) dropwise over 30 minutes. The reaction mixture stirred at room temperature for 4 h. The solvent was removed in vacuo. The residue was dissolved in water (500 mL) and washed with MTBE (250 mL). The aqueous layer was mixed with CH₂Cl₂ (300 mL) and the pH adjusted to 11 with 1N NaOH (190 mL). The CH₂Cl₂ layer was separated and the aqueous layer was extracted with CH₂Cl₂ (300 mL). The combined CH₂Cl₂ layers were washed with brine (2×300 mL), dried (MgSO₄) and concentrated in vacuo to give the desired product (92.8 g, 94% yield) as a yellow oil. LC/MS (electrospray, +ions) m/z 567 (M+H).

To a solution of Compound 219 (100 mg, 0.18 mmol) in 1,2-dichloroethane (250 μl) at 0° C. is added a solution of 2-phenylpropionic acid (50 μl 0.37 mmol), EDAC (69 mg, 0.36 mmol), and DMAP (44 mg, 0.36 mmol) in 1,2-dichloroethane (250 μl). The reaction mixture stirred for 36 hours at room temperature. The reaction was diluted with EtOAc (50 ml) and washed with saturated NaHCO₃ (2×25 ml), water (25 ml) and brine (25 ml), dried (Na₂SO₄) and evaporated to give the crude product (128 mg). This material was purified by flash column chromatography eluted with 1:1 hexanes:EtOAc to give the product (122.4 mg, 99% yield).

Part A compound (122 mg, 0.18 mmol) was stirred in a 10%TFA in CH₂Cl₂ solution (4.0 ml) for 2.5 h. The solvent was removed in vacuo. The residual TFA was removed by coevapoation with CH₂Cl₂ (4×3 ml) and MeOH (2×3 ml). The residue was dissolved in MeOH and heated at 60° C. for 8 h. The solvent was removed in vacuo, and the residue was purified by prepartive HPLC (20%-100% B, 12 min. gradient, 20 ml/min, YMCS5 ODS 20×100 mm) to give the desired product (115.4 mg, 93% yield). LC/MS (electrospray, +ions) m/z 596 (M+H).

In a manner analogous to that of compounds of Example 353 and 354, compounds of Examples 355 to 392 listed in the table below were prepared from Example 218 Part F compound and the respective acid or acid chloride.

Examples 355 to 392

Example No. X₁—R M + H positive ions 355

534 356

548 357

582 358

610 359 X₁—CH₃ 506 360

548 361

520 362

586 363

604 364

636 365

582 366

596 367

582 368

596 369

644 370

598 371

626 372

603 373

548 374

562 375

582 376

588 377

644 378

618 379

618 380

660 381

660 382

574 383

560 384

546 385

594 386

574 387

560 388

636 389

652 390

650 391

534 392

546

Compounds of Examples 393 to 424 listed in the tables below were prepared in a manner analogous to that of compounds of Example 353 and 354.

Examples 393 to 424 Example No. X₁—R M + H positive ions

393

566 394

580 395

572 396

580 397

594 398

560 399

596 400

606 401

610 402

610 403

586 404

598 405

648 406

648 407

546 408

700 409

580 410

544

411

568 412

596 413

582 414

630 415

625 416

597 417

644 418

665 419

660 420

610 421

650 422

648 423

624 424

636

To a solution of methyl R-(+)-3-BOC-2,2-dimethyl-4-oxazolidine carboxylate

(2.05 g, 7.75 mmol, Aldrich, 98%) in THF (24.0 mL) was added a light suspension of calcium chloride (437 mg, 3.94 mmol) in EtOH (16.5 mL) and the resulting solution was cooled at 0° C. Sodium borohydride was added and the mixture was stirred at 0° C. for 2 h. and for 4 h at rt. The final mixture was cooled at 0° C. and potassium phosphate buffer (pH 3, 40 mL) was added. The aqueous mixture was stirred for 30 min at rt. and then extracted with CH₂Cl₂ (3×70 mL). The combined organic phase was dried (Na₂SO₄) and evaporated to a crude which was chromatographed (SiO₂ 230-400 mesh, 3/2 to 1/1 hexanes/EtOAc) to give the starting ester (409 mg, 20% recovery) and the desired alcohol (1.46 g, 806 yield): ¹H NMR ∂(CDCl₃,ppm, rotamers) 4.18-3.56 (4m, 6H), 1.55 and 1.50 (2s, 15 H).

To a solution of Part A compound(2.90 g, 12.5 mmol), 2-hydroxypyridine (1.54 g, 15.7 mmol)and triphenylphosphine (4.11 g, 15.7 mmol) in THF (27 mL) was added diethylazo-dicarboxylate (2.47 mL, 15.7 mmol) dropwise. The solution was stirred at rt. for 13.5 h. and then partially evaporated. The remaining solution was passed though a SiO₂ ( 230-400 mesh) column, eluting with 7/3 hexanes/ EtOAc, to provide the desired compound (1.88 g, 49% yield) as a solid: ¹H NMR ∂(CDCl₃,ppm, rotamers) 8.15 (m, 1H), 7.57 (m,1H), 6.88 (m, 1H), 6.74 (d, J=8.2 Hz, 1H), 4.50 (m, 1H), 4.25-3.95 ( several m, 4H), 1.61-1.45 (several s, 15H).

A solution of Part B compound(434 mg, 1.41 mmol) and p-toluenesulfonic acid monohydrate (295 mg, 1.55 mmol) in dry MeOH (14.1 mL) was heated at 35° C. for 7 h and then stirred at rt. for 3.8 h. After cooling at 0° C., a 1M K₂CO₃ solution (0.8 mL) was added and the mixture volume was reduced in vacuo to 4 mL. Brine (50 mL) was added and the pH of the aqueous solution was adjusted to 10 by addition of 1M K₂CO₃. Extraction with CH₂Cl₂ (4×50 mL), drying (Na₂SO₄), evaporation and chromatography (SiO₂ 230-400 mesh, 1/1 hexanes/EtOAc) of the crude gave starting Part B compound (93 mg, 21% recovery) and the desired alcohol (249 mg, 66% yield) as a colorless solid: LC-MS 99% Area; LC/MS (electrospray, +ions) m/z 269 (M+H).

To a solution of Part C compound (1.34 g, 5.00 mmol) and triphenylphosphine (1.58 g, 6.02 mmol) in CH₂Cl₂ (34.0 mL), cooled at 0° C., was added diethylazodicarboxylate (0.95 mL, 6.03) dropwise and the mixture was stirred at rt. for 3.75 h. The mixture volume was reduced to 8 mL in vacuo and the remaining solution was passed through a SiO₂ (230-400 mesh) column, eluting with 7/3 hexanes/EtOAc to obtain the desired compound (862 mg, 70% yield) as a yellow oil: ¹H NMR ∂(CDCl₃, ppm) 8.13 (m, 1H) , 7.57 (m, 1H) , 6.88 (m, 1H) , 6.78 (d, J=8.2 Hz, 1H) , 4.45 (dd, J=11.6, 4.4 Hz,1H), 4.36 (dd, J=11.6, 5.5 Hz,1H), 2.88 (m, 1H), 2.35 (d, J=6.0 Hz,1H), 2.22 (d, J=3.9 Hz,1H), 1.43 (s, 9H).

To a suspension of Part D compound (97 mg, 0.39 mmol) and potassium cyanide (51 mg, 0.78 mmol) in DMSO (2.6 mL) was added water (7 μL) and the mixture was heated at 30-40° C. for 11 h. Stirring was continued for an additional 9 h. at rt. and the mixture was diluted with 9/1 hexanes/EtOAc (60 mL). The solution was washed with water (2×30 mL) and brine (30 mL), dried (Na₂SO₄) and evaporated to give 92 mg crude. Chromatography (SiO₂ 230-400 mesh, 7/3 hexanes/EtOAc) provided starting aziridine (8.0 mg, 8% recovery) and the desired compound (75.6 mg, 72% yield) as a colorless solid: LC-MS 100% Area; LC/MS (electrospray, +ions) m/z 278 (M+H)

15% TFA solution (6.0 mL) was added to a flask containing Part E compound(199 mg, 0.72 mmol) and thioanisole (254 μL, 2.16 mmol), and the resulting solution was allowed to stand at rt. for 4 h. The solution was evaporated and the residual TFA was removed by coevaporation with CH₂Cl₂ (2×5 mL) and MeOH (3×5 mL), and drying under high vacuum for 1 h. The crude amine salt material,

was used without further purification in the subsequent reaction.

N-Boc-O-benzyl-D-serine (298 mg, 1.00 mmol), EDAC (194 mg, 1.01 mmol), HOAT (137 mg, 1.01 mmol), 1,2-DCE (0.47 mL), and DMF (940 μL) were mixed at 0° C. and stirred for 15 min. The resulting cloudy solution was transferred, via syringe, to a 0° C. solution of the crude amine (from above) in 1,2-DCE (400 μL) and DMF (470 μL), and the mixture was stirred for 10 min. at 0° C. Diisopropylethylamine was added and stirring was continued at rt. for 36 h. The reaction mixture was diluted with EtOAc (80 mL) and washed with saturated NaHCO₃ (2×40 mL), water (40 mL) and brine (40 mL). The organic layer was dried (Na₂SO₄), evaporated and chromatographed (SiO₂ 230-400 mesh, 1/1 hexanes/EtOAc) to provide the desired compound (311 mg, 95% yield) as a colorless oil: ¹H NMR ∂(CDCl₃,ppm) 8.17 (s, 1H) , 7.84 (s, 1H), 7.61 (m, 1H) , 7.30 (m, 5H), 6.94 (m, 1H), 6.76 (d, J=7.9 Hz, 1H), 5.37 (s, 1H), 4.52 (m, 5H), 4.31 (broad s, 1H), 3.88 (m, 1H), 3.58 (m, 1H) , 2.80 (m, 2H) , 1.43 (s, 9H).

Diethylazodicarboxylate (131 μL, 0.83 mmol, DEAD) and azidotrimethylsilane (110 μL, 0.83 mmol) were added to a solution of Part F compound(311 mg, 0.69 mmol) and triphenyiphosphine (217 mg, 0.83 mmol) in CH₂Cl₂ (1.4 mL). The mixture was stirred at rt. for 22 h. and additional amounts of triphenylphosphine (217 mg), DEAD (131 μL) and azidotrimethylsilane (110 μL) were added. Stirring was continued for an additional 24 h at rt. and the final mixture was passed through a SiO₂ (230-400 mesh) column, eluting with 3/2 to 1/1 hexanes/EtOAc, to give the desired compound (248 mg, 760) as a thick colorless oil: ¹H NMR ∂(CDCl₃,ppm) 8.11 (m, 1H), 7.55 (m, 1H), 7.33 (m, 3H), 7.20 (m, 2H), 6.92 (t, J=7.9 Hz, 1H), 6.76 (d, J=8.3 Hz, 1H), 5.45 (d, J=8.3 Hz, 1H), 5.44 (m, 2H), 4.73 (dd, J=11.6, 4.9 Hz, 1H), 4.63 (dd, J=11.6, 8.3 Hz, 1H), 4.50 (d, J=11.0 Hz, 1H), 4.44 (d, J=11.0 Hz, 1H), 4.00 (dd, J=8.3, 5.5 Hz, 1H), 3.58 (t, J=8.8 Hz, 1H), 3.04 (dd, J=17.0, 7.1 Hz, 1H), 2.86 (dd, J=17.0, 7.1 Hz, 1H), 1.43 (s, 9H).

5% TFA solution (6.2 mL) was added to a flask containing the Part G compound (227 mg, 0.47 mmol) and thioanisole (166 μL, 1.41 mmol), and the resulting solution was allowed to stand at rt. for 4 h. The solution was evaporated and the residual TFA was removed by coevaporation with CH₂Cl₂ (2×8 mL) and MeOH (3×8 mL), and drying under high vacuum for 1 h. The residue was heated at 60° C. in MeOH (25 mL) and the solution concentrated. The crude amine material,

was used without further purification in the subsequent reaction. N-Boc-methyl alanine

(125 mg, 0.62 mmol), EDAC (117 mg, 0.61 mmol), HOAT (84 mg, 0.62 mmol), 1,2-DCE (350 μL) and DMF (700 μL) were mixed at 0° C. and stirred for 15 min. The resulting solution was transferred, via syringe, to a 0° C. solution of the crude amine (from above) in 1,2-DCE (300 μL) and DMF (400 μL), and the mixture was stirred at 0° C. for 15 min. Diisopropylethylamine (205 μL, 1.18 mmol) was added and stirring was continued for 25 h at rt. The final mixture was diluted with EtOAc (75 mL) and washed with saturated NaHCO₃ (2×30 mL), water (30 mL) and brine (30 mL). The organic layer was dried (Na₂SO₄), evaporated and chromatographed (SiO₂ 230-400 mesh, 3/2 to 2/3 hexanes/EtOAc) to provide desired compound (175.4 mg, 66% yield) as a colorless foam: ¹H NMR ∂(CDCl₃,ppm) 8.13 (m, 1H), 7.57 (m, 1H), 7.42 (d, J=8.8 H, 1H), 7.31 (m, 3H), 7.19 (m, 2H), 6.93 (m, 1H), 6.77 (d, J=8.2 Hz, 1H), 5.75 (m, 1H), 5.49 (m, 1H), 4.97 (s, 1H), 4.73 (dd, J=11.6, 5.5 Hz, 1H), 4.66 (dd, J=11.6, 7.7 Hz, 1H), 4.50 (d, J=11.6 Hz, 1H), 4.43 (d, J=11.5 Hz, 1H), 4.04 (m, 1H), 3.52 (t, J=8.8 Hz, 1H), 3.02 (dd, J=17.1, 6.6 Hz, 1H), 2.85 (dd, J=17.0, 7.7 Hz, 1H), 1.50 (s, 3H), 1.44 (s, 3H) ; 1.36 (s, 9H)

Part H compound (492 mg, 0.87 mmol) was treated with 15% TFA (14.0 mL) for 2.5 h and the solution concentrated in vacuo. The residual TFA was coevaporated with CH₂Cl₂ (3×10 mL) and MeOH (2×10 mL), and drying under high vacuum for 1 h. The residue was heated at 60° C. in MeOH (40 mL) for 10 h. and the solution concentrated to give the crude desired compound. Successive precipitation from MeOH/ether provided the desired compound (418 mg). The mother liquor was evaporated and the residue was purified by preparative HPLC (Shimadzu, 10-100% B [MeOH:H2O:0.1% TFA], 30 min. gradient, 20 mL/min. flow rate, 220 nm, YMC S5 ODS 20×100 mm) to give an additional amount of the title compound (67.6 mg): Combined yield, 96%; LC-MS 99% Area; LC/MS (electrospray, +ions) m/z 465 (M+H).

The following compounds were prepared employing the procedures described above and the working Examples.

Examples 426 to 477

M + H Example No. X₁—R positive ions 426

540 427

490 428

462 429

504 430

449 431

450 432

480 433

477 434

463 435

523 436

500 437

466 438

575 439

504 440

464 441

581 442

490 443

478 444

540 445

508 446

494 447

490 448

503 449

491 450

436 451

499 452

520 453

554 454

476 455

476 456

476 457

490 458

476 459

462 460

503 461

546 462

546 463

567 464

601 465

464 466

560 467

517 468

593 469

595 470

518 471

565 472

476 473

552 474

622 475

565 476

579 477

607

Examples 478 to 498

M + H Exam- positive ple No. X₁—R ions 478

566 479

566 480

552 481

519 482

532 483

572 484

510 485

523 486

574 487

573 488

460 489

516 490

545 491

488 492

501 493

474 494

523 495

574 496

473 497

544 498

508

Examples 499 to 530

Example No. X₁—R M + H positive ions 499

464 500

525 501

496 502

532 503

511 504

496 505

532 506

511 507

544 508

483 509

455 510

482 511

524 512

496 513

565 514

450 515

482 516

497 517

518 518

497 519

539 520

510 521

546 522

525 523

482 524

496 525

496 526

482 527

512 528

512 529

511 530

525

Examples 531 to 554

Example No. X₁—R M + H positive ions 531

581 532

450 533

464 534

497 535

511 536

462 537

476 538

490 539

405 540

344 541

464 542

536 543

536 544

557 545

557 546

506 547

589 548

370 549

521 550

583 551

465 552

426 553

535 554

480

Examples 555 to 583

Example No. X₁—R M + H positive ions 555

453 556

489 557

511 558

525 559

483 560

465 561

481 562

416 563

500 564

498 565

618 566

602 567

601 568

615 569

539 570

553 571

662 572

595 573

604 574

699 575

447 576

495 577

509 578

507 579

610 580

517 581

531 582

377 583

463 

What is claimed is:
 1. A compound of formula II

including pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, prodrug esters thereof, and all stereoisomers thereof, wherein R₁ is alkyl, aryl, alkenyl, alkynyl, arylalkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, alkoxyalkyl, arylalkyloxyalkyl, aryloxyalkyl, heteroaryl, cycloalkylalkoxyalkyl, heteroarylalkyl, cycloheteroalkyl or cycloheteroalkylalkyl, and these groups may be optionally substituted by 1,2 or 3-substituents selected from halogen, —OR₈, —OC(O)R₈, alkyl, phenyl, phenoxy, halophenyl, —CF₃, —OCF₃, —N(R_(8a))C(O)(R₈), or —N(R₈) (R_(8a)); R_(1a) is H, alkyl, or cycloalkyl; A is oxygen, sulfur, —NH—, —N—R₅, or —NC(O)—R₂; B is —CR_(5b) or —N—; Z is a bond or —S—; R₂ is alkyl, aryl, alkenyl, alkynyl, arylalkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, alkoxyalkyl, aryloxyalkyl, heteroaryl, or heteroarylalkyl, and these groups may optionally be substituted by 1,2 or 3-substituents selected from halogen, —OR_(8b), —OC(O)R_(8b), alkyl, phenyl, phenoxy, halophenyl, —CF₃, —OCF₃, —N(R_(8c))C(O)(R_(8b)), or —N(R_(8c))(R_(8b)); R₃ is H, halogen, alkyl, aryl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkaryl, alkoxy, aryloxy or J1, and where alkyl, aryl, alkenyl, alkynyl, arylalkyl, alkoxy, or aryloxy may be optionally substituted with 1 to 3 J1; R₄ and R_(4a) are the same or different and are independently selected from H, halogen, —CF₃, alkyl, or aryl; R₅ is H, alkyl, aryl, alkenyl, arylalkenyl, alkynyl, arylalkyl, arylalkynyl, cycloalkylalkyl, alkoxyalkyl, aryloxyalkyl, arylalkyloxyalkyl, heteroaryl, cycloalkylalkoxyalkyl, —SO₂T₁, —SO₂N(T_(1a))T₁, or heteroarylalkyl, and where alkyl, aryl, alkenyl, arylalkenyl, alkynyl, arylalkyl, arylalkynyl, cycloalkylalkyl, alkoxyalkyl, aryloxyalkyl, arylalkyloxyalkyl, heteroaryl, heteroaryloxyalkyl, cycloalkylalkoxyalkyl, or heteroarylalkyl may be independently optionally substituted with 1 to 3 J1; R_(5a) and R_(5b) are the same or different and are independently selected from H, alkyl, aryl, alkenyl, arylalkenyl, alkynyl, arylalkyl, arylalkynyl, cycloalkylalkyl, alkoxyalkyl, aryloxyalkyl, arylalkyloxyalkyl, heteroaryl, cycloalkylalkoxyalkyl, heteroarylalkyl, or J1, and where alkyl, aryl, alkenyl, arylalkenyl, alkynyl, arylalkyl, arylalkynyl, cycloalkylalkyl, alkoxyalkyl, aryloxyalkyl, arylalkyloxy-alkyl, heteroaryl, heteroaryloxyalkyl, cycloalkylalkoxy-alkyl, or heteroarylalkyl may be independently optionally substituted with 1 to 3 J1; Y is

where x and y are independently 0 to 3 and z is 1 to 3; X_(c) is a bond, —N—R_(6a) or —O—; R₇ and R_(7a) are the same or different and are independently selected from H, alkyl, —CF₃, phenyl, aryl, arylalkyl, and cycloalkyl; or one or both of R₇ and R_(7a) can be independently joined to one or both of R₉ and R₁₀ groups (of X_(b)) to form an alkylene bridge of 1 to 5 carbon atoms; or R₇ and R_(7a) are joined together to form a ring of from 3-7 carbon atoms; R₆, R_(6a), R_(6b), R_(6c), R₈, R_(8a), R_(8b), R_(8c), R_(8d), R_(8e), R_(8f), R_(8g), R_(8h), R_(8i), R_(8k), R_(8l), and R_(8m) are the same or different and are independently H, alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl or aryl; R_(8j) is H, alkyl, aryl, hydroxy or —OC(O)R_(8k); X_(b) is

R₉ and R₁₀ are the same or different and are independently selected from H, alkyl, and substituted alkyl where the substituents may be 1 to 3 hydroxy, 1 to 3 C₁-C₁₀-alkanoyloxy, 1 to 3 C₁₋₆ alkoxy, phenyl, phenoxy, C₁-C₆-alkoxycarbonyl; or R₉ and R₁₀ can together form —(CH₂)_(t)X_(d)(CH₂)_(u)— where X_(d is C(R) _(8h))(R_(8j)), —O— or —N(R_(6b)), t and u are independently 1-3; R₁₁ is H, C₁-C₆alkyl, —CF₃, arylalkyl, or aryl, and with the alkyl and aryl groups being optionally substituted with 1 to 3 hydroxy, 1 to 3 C₁₋₁₀alkanoyloxy, 1 to 3 C₁₋₆ alkoxy, phenyl, phenoxy or C₁-C₆ alkoxycarbonyl; R₁₂ and R₁₃ are independently H, C₁-C₆alkyl, —CF₃, aryl, or halogen, and with the alkyl and aryl groups being optionally substituted with 1 to 3 hydroxy, 1 to 3 C₁-C₁₀-alkanoyloxy, 1 to 3 C₁₋₆ alkoxy, or C₁-C₆ alkoxycarbonyl; J1 is nitro, —(CH₂)vN(T_(1a))C(O)T₁, —(CH₂)_(v)CN, —(CH₂)_(v)N(T_(1a))C(O)OT₁, —(CH₂)_(v)N(T_(1a))C(O)N(T_(1b))T₁, —(CH₂)_(v)N(T_(1a))SO₂T₁, —(CH₂)_(v)C(O)N(T_(1a))T₁, —(CH₂)_(v)C(O)OT₁, —(CH₂)_(v)OC(O)OT₁, —(CH₂)_(v)OC(O)T₁, —(CH₂)_(v)OC(O)N(T_(1a))T₁, —(CH₂)_(v)N(T_(1a))SO₂N(T_(1b))T₁, —(CH₂)_(v)OT₁, —(CH₂)_(v)SO₂T₁, —(CH₂)vSO₂N(T_(1a))T₁, —(CH₂)vC(O)T₁, —(CH₂)vCH(OH)T₁, cycloheteroalkyl or heteroaryl, with v being 0-5; T₁, T_(1a) and T_(1b) are the same or different and are independently H, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, lower alkythioalkyl, alkoxyalkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, heteroaryl, heteroarylalkyl, cycloheteroalkyl, or cycloalkyl, each of which may be optionally substituted with 1, 2 or 3 substituents selected from halogen, hydroxyl, —NR_(8f)C(O)NR_(8g)R_(8i), —C(O)NR_(8f)R_(8g), —NR_(8f)C(O)R_(8g), —CN, —N(R_(8f))SO₂R₁₄, —OC(O)R_(8f), —SO₂NR_(8f)R_(8g), —SOR₁₄, —SO₂R₁₄, alkoxy, —COOH, cycloheteroalkyl, or —C(O)OR₁₄; or T₁ and T_(1a) or T₁ and T_(1b) can together form —(CH₂)_(w)X_(e)(CH₂)_(z)— where X_(e) is —C(R_(8m))(R_(8l)), —O—, —S—, —SO—, —SO₂—, —NC(O)OR_(14a), —NC(O)NR_(14a)R_(14b), —NC(O)R_(4a) or —N(R_(6c)) where w and z are each independently 1-3; with the proviso that T₁ can not be hydrogen when it is connected to carbonyl or sulfur, as in —C(O)T₁ or —SO₂T₁; R₁₄, R_(14a), and R_(14b) are independently C₁-C₆alkyl, heteroaryl, or aryl, each optionally substituted with —(CH₂)_(s)OH, with s being 0-5; with the proviso that the following (1) through (3) apply to compounds of formula II (1) where one or both of R₇ and R_(7a), and one or both of R₉ and R₁₀ form an alkylene bridge then where R₅ is —(CH₂)C(O)N(T_(1a))T₁, then at least one of T_(1a) and T ≠H; or (2) where R₁ is arylalkyl and R_(1a) is H and R₅ is —(CH₂)C(O)N(T_(1a))T₁, then T_(1a) or T₁ is other than

(3) where R₁ and R₇ are each 2-naphthyl-CH₂—, then R⁵ ≠ phenethyl; and further provided that said compound is other than the compound


2. The compound as defined in claim 1 wherein R₁ is arylalkyloxyalkyl and R_(1a) is H.
 3. The compound as defined in claim 1 wherein J1 is —(CH₂)_(v)CN, —(CH₂)_(v)C(O)N(T_(1a))T₁, —(CH₂)_(v)N(T_(1a))C(O)T₁, —(CH₂)_(v)OC(O)N(T_(1a))T₁, —(CH₂)_(v)N(T_(1a))C(O)N(T_(1b))T₁, or heteroaryl, with v being 0-4; T₁, T_(1a) and T_(1b) are the same or different and are independently selected from alkyl, lower alkythiolkyl, alkoxyalkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, heteroarylalkykl, or cycloheteroalkyl, each of which may be optionally substituted with —OC(O)R_(8f), —C(O)NR_(8f)R_(8g), —(CH₂)_(s)OH, with s being 0-2, —SO₂NR_(8f)R_(8g)or —SO₂R₁₄; or T₁ and T_(1a) or T₁ and T_(1b) can together form —(CH₂)_(w)X_(e)(CH₂)_(z)— where X_(e) is C(R_(8m))(R_(8l)); R_(8f) is alkyl or aryl.
 4. The compound as defined in claim 1 having the structure

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 5. The compound as defined in claim 1 having the structure

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 6. The compound as defined in claim 1 having the structure

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 7. The compound as defined in claim 6 having the structure.

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 8. The compound as defined in claim 6 having the structure

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 9. The compound as defined in claim 1 wherein R₁ is aralkyl, arylalkyloxyalkyl, cycloheteroalkylalkyl, aryloxyalkyl or heteroarylalkyl.
 10. The compound as defined in claim 1 wherein R_(1a) is H or alkyl.
 11. The compound as defined in claim 1 wherein R₁ is arylalkyloxyalkyl and R_(1a) is H.
 12. The compound as defined in claim 1 wherein R₆ is H.
 13. The compound as defined in claim 2 wherein R₅ is alkyl or alkenyl or heteroaryloxy-alkyl, each substituted with J1, and J1 is —(CH₂)_(v)OC(O)N(T_(1a))T₁, —(CH₂)_(v)CN, or heteroaryl.
 14. The compound as defined in claim 1 wherein Y is

where x and y are 0, X_(c) is a bond, and R₇ and R_(7a) are independently alkyl.
 15. The compound as defined in claim 1 wherein X_(b) is

R₉ and R₁₀ are the same or different and are independently selected from H and substituted alkyl where the substituents may be 1 to 2 hydroxyls.
 16. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound as defined in claim 1 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier therefor.
 17. A method for increasing levels of endogenous growth hormone, which comprises administering to a patient in need of treatment a therapeutically effective amount of a compound as defined in claim
 1. 18. A method for treating obesity, osteoporosis, renal disease, cardiac myopathy, cachexia, HIV wasting syndrome, long term critical illness, sarcopenia, and/or stimulating wound healing and/or the immune system, or increasing muscle mass and/or muscle strength, or maintenance of muscle strength and function in the elderly, or reversal or prevention of fraility in the elderly, which comprises administering to a patient in need of treatment a therapeutically effective amount of a compound as defined in claim
 1. 19. A method for treating Syndrome X, which comprises administering to a patient in need of treatment a therapeutically effective amount of a compound as defined in claim
 1. 20. A method for prophylaxis and/or treatment of diabetes and/or increasing lean body mass, which comprises administering to a patient in need of treatment a therapeutically effective amount of a compound as defined in claim
 1. 21. A method for preventing or treating osteoporosis, which comprises administering to a patient in need of treatment a therapeutically effective amount of a compound as defined in claim
 1. 22. A method for treating osteoporosis, which comprises administering to a patient in need of treatment a therapeutically effective amount of a compound as defined in claim 1 in combination with parathyroid hormone or a bisphosphonate.
 23. A method for treating Syndrome X, cachexia, HIV wasting syndrome, long term critical illness, or sarcopenia, or for increasing muscle mass and/or muscle strength, or for maintenance of muscle strength and function in the elderly, or for reversal or prevention of fraility in the elderly, which comprises administering to a patient in need of treatment a therapeutically effective amount of a compound as defined in claim 1 in combination with estrogen, testosterone, a selective estrogen receptor modulator, or a selective androgen receptor modulator.
 24. A method for accelerating bone fracture repair, which comprises administering to a patient in need of treatment a therapeutically effective amount of a compound as defined in claim
 1. 